Using plastic in our daily lives can promote pollution and not everyone has the ease of access to recycling facilities. But did you know that you can help in curbing plastic pollution right from the comfort of your home? From sorting plastics differently to reusing them creatively this guide will give you practical tips and methods on how to recycle plastic at home.
How to Recycle Plastic Properly at Home
Before we begin, the first step would be to identify the type of plastic we will work with. We can do that by looking at the plastic code which consists of three arrows bending in the middle forming a triangle. There are numbers from 1 to 7 inside that triangle. PET and HDPE are the only types we can work with and they are identified by the numbers 1 and 2.
Below we have mentioned some simple and creative tips on how to recycle plastic at home and reuse it:
1. Use your Existing Plastic Containers for Holding Condiments or Snacks
You can upcycle plastic bottles and containers by keeping snacks and condiments in them rather than throwing them away. Be sure to wash them thoroughly before reutilizing them. They can also be labeled by writing down names with an appropriate marker.
2. Turning Old Plastic Bottles into Pots for your Garden
Cut off the top part of the bottle and make some holes at the bottom for water drainage. Use the bottle to plant some seeds or small plants inside by putting soil in it.
3. Design Hanging Garden from Recycled Soda Bottles
You can build a wall-hanging garden out of old soda bottles by cutting the bottom part and leaving only the caps. Make some holes on the lid for drainage and two slits a little below the edge. Plant with soil and seeds or vegetables. Hang the bottles by tying them with pieces of string or wire.
4. Make Sprinkler with Plastic Bottles
First, wash the bottles and then remove their labels and lids. Also, make some holes along the sides of bottles. Duct tape the end of the garden hose to the bottle lid or use a hose connector. Screw the nozzle on the bottle tightly. Start the tap and enjoy your DIY water sprinkler.
5. Make Bag Out of PET bottle By Using Zipper
You will require a PET bottle, scissors, a knife, a zipper and adhesive. Cut the bottle in the middle across the circumference leaving out around 2 cm of space. Stick the zippers on the open sides of the bottle pieces and let them dry.
If you are into crafty and DIY projects then you can also use such methods to recycle and reuse your waste.
Also, take a look at the Complete Plastics Recycling Process Step-by-step guide
6. Weave Bags and Baskets Out of Plastic Straws
Straws, by cutting them to the desired length, can serve as material for making mesh bags, coasters and baskets through knitting. The decorations can be made through beads, ribbons and other suitable materials too.
7. Aquaponics Garden Using Old Plastic Pipes
You can build your aquaponic garden from old pipes and this approach of growing plants and fish together in a symbiotic system is a very useful one. You can use PVC pipes and make a gravity-based system that allows the water to flow from one tank to another.
8. Make Vertical Garden with Old PVC Pipes
This uses less water and soil by placing the plants in old PVC pipes that can be made into vertical gardens. Take some old PVC pipes and make a free-standing structure by placing the pipes horizontally. Make some holes in the pipe to plant the saplings. Trickle a stream of water from the top of the pipes for nourishment.
With your own shredder, a melter, and an extruder home plastic recycling machine, you can learn these advanced methods of reusing plastic waste at home.
9. Use Crushed Plastic Backfill from Discarded Plastic Bottles to make 3D Printing Filament
You can create your 3D printing filament from old plastic bottles by gathering PET or HDPE bottles and slicing them into strips. Also, put them into an extrusion machine or a DIY extruder and wrap them over the spool, This method will allow you to care for the environment by decreasing plastic waste and money spent on filament production.
10. Recycle and Make Products We Use Every day
Plastic bottles and caps can be repurposed into many things like planters, combs, or eating utensils. You can melt them using a preheated oven or a heat gun. You will need the form of item you want and the right kind of plastic either PET or HDPE will serve you right.
Safety Note: Melting plastic can release fumes. Work in a ventilated environment. Put on gloves, goggles, and a respirator. Collect plastic dust as this can prevent microplastics.
Also Read: Glass Recycling Process Explained: How to Dispose of and Recycle Glass Properly
Can I Recycle Plastics at Home by Melting and Molding?
Yes, it is possible but it’s not recommended for beginners as for starters you need to know about the category of the plastic item. Moreover, plastic melting is not an easy task and can be dangerous and so precautions are needed.
You will need the following items:
- A small toaster oven at 150°C (300°F)
- A heat gun and a tin can
- A sandwich toaster or a panini press
Follow these steps to start the melting process.
- Use a vacuum and a bell jar to remove air bubbles
- Use paper that is greaseproof to avoid sticking
- Use a non-porous surface to avoid sticking
- Wear gloves that protect from heat
Here’s a video that shows how to make various things by melting plastic.
How to Recycle Plastic at Home for Money
Recycling plastic at home for money lets you reduce your trash amount, save energy and even get some cash. Here’s how:
1. Collect: Find the plastic bottles you use in your daily life, such as milk jugs, water bottles, soda bottles, etc. Label three bins for each type of plastic: HDPE (opaque), PVC (clear with seam), and PVC (clear with hard center). Before you throw the bottles into bins, rinse them.
2. Sort: Keep the bottles sorted by kind and code. Have large plastic sacks or boxes for each specific form of plastic and label them correctly. Make a rough guess on the amount that you will get by finding out how many bottles are in each box and multiplying that value by the price of the bottle.
3. Sell: You can sell the plastic bottles to the nearby recycling center. It can be through the yellow page or doing online research. Make sure that you know the laws beforehand. Certain ones might ask you to screw caps on, peel off labels, or break them up.
The manner of transportation of the bags or boxes of plastic bottles by car, bicycle, or public transport can be done. Once you are at the recycling center, get the weight of the plastic bottle bags and collect your money.
4. Bonus: Get Creative with Projects: Plastic bottles turned into DIY crafts and projects. One could possibly turn this waste into wonderful and attractive pieces such as a planter, a lamp, a bird feeder, jewelry, and so on. You can put these items for sale at fairs or online.
What Can Plastic Be Recycled Into?
Some of the products that can be made from recycled plastic are mentioned below:
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Plastic bags and films
- Plastic furniture and outdoor products
- Plastic clothing and textiles
- Plastic building materials
Also, check out Plastic-Free, Sustainable, Eco Friendly Skincare Cosmetic Packaging.
Now that you have a basic idea of how to recycle plastic at home, use it to start your own DIY projects. You can reuse them in your day-to-day life, or prepare them to drop in designated recycling facilities. Either way, you are helping to reduce plastic waste from entering our ecosystem. For more such informative content, keep reading our blog posts.
