What can I do with leftover plastic containers?

Like many people, you probably try to reduce, reuse and recycle as many things as possible. While recycling is certainly one way of ‘going green' and reducing impact, upcycling plastic containers and reusing empty containers of everyday items can extend the lifespan of an object for generations. There are plenty of surprisingly fun and cost-effect ways to do so, and many storage containers can be repurposed with a minimal amount of effort. Don’t believe us? Read on for some of our favorite examples for repurposing plastic containers.

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Keep Bagels and Donuts Fresh with CD Holders

You know those plastic containers for storing stacks of blank CDs and DVDs? They are perfectly suited for transporting and storing bagels and donuts too. Packing a bagel sandwich for lunch and don't want it to get smushed in your bag? Just place it in a repurposed plastic CD holder and screw on the top as securely as possible. (Depending on the toppings, you may also need to put it in the fridge.) Either way, this is a fun and eco-friendly way to make bagels and donuts last simply by upcycling containers you have lying around the house.

Turn a Bathroom Storage Basket into a Pen Holder

The local office supply store is sure to have plenty of options for storing pens, pencils and highlighters. But why spend your hard-earned cash on that type of organizer when you can learn how to repurpose containers instead? We love the look of using a sleek plastic bathroom makeup storage caddy for all the pens and pencils that can junk up a desk. Smaller lipstick storage containers can be used for paperclips, staples and other desktop necessities.

Use a Milk Jug as a Mini Cooler

If you're trying to figure out how to reuse containers, you might consider starting with the humble plastic milk jug. There are almost unlimited ways to repurpose and reuse them. One clever option that you may not have considered is using one to keep drinks and food cold inside coolers. Simply fill an empty, clean milk jug about half way with water and put it in the freezer. Keep it there until you need to transport food and drinks in a cooler. Compared with loose ice, a frozen milk jug lasts a lot longer, is easier to manage and doesn't cost a thing.

Use a Yogurt Container to Measure Liquids

Many popular yogurt brands have containers that hold eight fluid ounces. One cup of liquid is equal to eight ounces, so you can use these repurposed containers as measuring cups. This is especially handy when a recipe requires several measuring cups or if you're cooking while camping.

Turn a Soda Bottle into a Bag Clip

Many household issues and annoyances can be solved with creative upcycling. For instance, you can use an old two-liter soda bottle to keep bags of chips and other snacks fresh in the cupboards. The first step is to cut off the uppermost part of the bottle about one-third of the way down. When you have a bag of food that needs to be sealed, pull the top of it through the spout in the bottle and then fold it down for an eco-friendly solution to stale snacks.

Stay Organized with Ice Cube Trays

Are you awash in old ice cube trays, or are you just looking for an affordable and eco-conscious way to keep tiny items as organized as possible? In either case, ice cube trays work great as reusable containers. Just clean out an old one and stick it in a drawer. Each cube can be used to store small items like thumbtacks, nails, screws and buttons. You can even use a permanent market to designate different cubes for different items.

Save Old Ice Cream Pails

If you ever buy those large plastic containers of ice cream with handles, don't throw them away or recycle them. They can be used in a number of clever ways around the house as makeshift buckets and bins. Fill a clean one with warm, soapy water and carry it around by the handle while cleaning your home. Make sure to keep the lids too because these repurposed containers can also be used to store small toys, kitchen gadgets and other items.

Keep Track of Gift Cards with Old Cassette Cases

Still have a pile of old plastic tape cassette cases? If you put your mind to it, even these outdated relics can be repurposed into useful storage containers. A terrific idea is to repurpose one to store all of your gift cards. Nothing is worse than knowing you have a gift card but not being able to find it. By storing them all in an old cassette case with the spools snapped off, you'll always know right where to look. You can also keep business cards or customer loyalty cards together in this way.

Grow Seedlings in Old Berry Containers

Gardeners are absolute pros at upcycling containers for their plants. One great tip is to  use the clamshell-style plastic containers that grocery store berries come in as mini-hothouses to get seedlings going. These containers come in many different sizes, and work remarkably well for this purpose.

Turn an Old Parmesan Cheese Container into a Shaker

Have you ever tried to gracefully sprinkle powdered sugar, cornstarch or other fine materials? If so, you know how awkward it actually is. Clean out your old Parmesan cheese plastic container and fill it with powdered sugar, cornstarch or whatever else you are looking to sprinkle. This handy shaker also works well for distributing home-made, eco-friendly carpet refresher.

Make Bookcases Out of Crates

Chances are that at least a few stores in your area have more crates than they can possibly ever use. If you're serious about upcycling, ask around for old crates and keep them handy. When you accumulate enough of them, you can put them together to create bookcases. The most you'll probably need is a drill, a few L-shaped brackets and some screws. You can arrange the crates in nearly countless ways. They may not be pretty enough for your living room, but they’ll work as perfectly imperfect repurposed containers in your garage or closets.

Keep Magazines Organized with Cereal Boxes

Are you tired of wading through stacks of magazines to find what you need? Would you like to keep reading materials handy without having them fanned out or otherwise creating clutter? If so, consider the lowly cereal box as your next upcycling project. Grab that Wheaties or Cheerios box and reuse it as a magazine or notebook holder. You've probably seen the ones they sell at the store. Transforming a cereal box into a reusable container is as simple as cutting its sides diagonally so that magazines, notebooks and other materials can be grabbed easily.

Manage Pancake Batter Easily with Old Ketchup Bottles

Pancakes are delicious, but pouring the batter so that it doesn't get all over the place is easier said than done. Why not take a repurposed plastic ketchup bottle and use it to squirt pancake batter onto the griddle instead? You can even use it to store batter in the fridge for a few days.

Keep Your Baby's Room Neat with Old Wipes Containers

If you have a baby, you probably also have plenty of old, empty baby wipes containers. They can often be recycled, but they can also be repurposed as storage containers to keep odds and ends neat and tidy too. Roll up clean washcloths and store them in wipes containers, or use an empty container to keep all of your little one's creams and ointments organized and readily accessible.

Put Pencils in Soda Cans

Recycling old soda cans is a no-brainer. Instead, pluck a few of them out of the bin and use them to keep things like pencils, pens, markers and even toothbrushes neat and organized. You may not like the appearance of most soda cans, but that can be remedied with contact paper, wallpaper or other coverings.

Get Seeds Started in Egg Cartons

In many communities, it is impossible to recycle Styrofoam. As a result, egg cartons pose a special challenge. Instead of adding them to local landfills, learn how to reuse containers – and get a jump on gardening season – by utilizing them to sprout seeds inside your home even before the weather is warm enough for outdoor planting. There's no need to throw them away after one use, either. These are true "reusable containers" as they can be used again and again.

Make Planters Out of Old, Metal Coffee Cans

We told you gardeners were seasoned in the art of how to repurpose containers. While metal coffee cans can be upcycled in a number of ways, one of the best is as decorative planters. Just drill holes in the bottom of the can so that water can drain out. You may also want to paint the outside of the can a bright, cheery color to complete the look.

Organize Plastic Grocery Bags with Tissue Boxes

Plastic shopping bags can be repurposed in many clever ways, but can be unruly when shoved into a cabinet or drawer. A simple and utterly eco-friendly way to keep them organized and manageable is by stuffing them into empty tissue boxes. They can then be pulled out whenever they're needed with minimal clutter and chaos.

Store Odds and Ends in Lunch Boxes

Like many children, yours may insist on new lunch boxes every year. They are sturdy enough to be reused as storage containers for all kinds of things. For example, you can use one to store MP3 players and related accessories and another for all your sewing notions.

Keep Ribbons Tidy with Shoe Boxes

Say goodbye to the days of unknotting large masses of tangled ribbons by y poking small holes in the side of a shoe box and pulling ribbons through them from the inside. They sell boxes like these at craft stores, but making one yourself is a snap – and a great way to remember a favorite pair of shoes or reuse a cool looking box. There are many other ways to repurpose shoe boxes, so make a point of holding onto them for whenever upcycling inspiration strikes.

Tips for Being Eco-Friendly

As you might have guessed, our top tip for being eco-friendly is to reuse what you've got in order to avoid buying more. While that's an awesome start, you may also want to consider lessening the impact of your vehicle by using public transportation, bikes or simply your own two feet to get around. We also suggest opening windows for cross-breezes, "letting the yellow mellow" in the toilet bowl, and investing in (or upcycling!) reusable water bottles and sandwich bags.

Of course, in addition to helping the environment, repurposing old storage containers keeps your home organized, saves money and gets you thinking "outside the box.". There’s little reason to let unused items go to waste. Just take a moment to consider your options before tossing something out. When it comes to upcycling containers, you may be surprised how creative you can be!

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