Plastic

Some sources and recommended books

• Stitch + String Lab For Kids by Cassie Stephens
• The Tightwad Gazette I and II by Amy Dacyzyn
• This is actually so bad for the environment it's wiser to scale back consumption of it than to encourage people to keep buying it and upcycling it
• PSA: if you have that plastic webbing that comes with 6-packs of plastic bottles, use some scissors to cut them up so sea turtles and other wildlife don't choke on it. It's a thing and it's sad.

Plastic bread clips

• Use these to prevent earbud tangling and for earbud storage
• Use these to differentiate the end of a roll of tape, like duct tape or something.

Plastic bags

• A really old Scouting idea is to get one of the bags, fill it with a bunch of other bags, then tie the outer bag shut and use it to stuff a pillowcase or zip-up throw pillowcase fabric exterior to make an outdoor chair or pillow. Or, let's face it, just cover the whole thing with duct tape and call it a day. Here's a slightly fancier example from In My Own Style
• Jessyratfink tutorial on Instructables for using plastic bags to pack items
• Dishes and Dust Bunnies Wreath Base This tutorial uses trash bags and plastic bags for the wreath base but you could probably use regular plastic bags if you used more duct tape and taped it in a spiral around the stuff.

Political Signs

• These are made of coroplast. They make handy window insulation panels that can be put up in the day and taken down at night, or vice versa, to reduce heat transfer.
• Storage Boxes on Instructables

Sturdy plastic bottles

• Reuse them as water bottles til they start to give out. You can half-fill these with water and freeze them on their sides, then fill up the rest with juice or an electrolyte drink for really refreshing drinks in summer. Don't knock it til you try it because it's surprisingly effective.

Old toothbrushes

• Soak for a few hours in high-proof vodka or mouthwash containing at least 70% alcohol by volume (140 proof). Or soak in a cup of boiling water. Wash well with soap and water. Put one next to the sink for scrubbing hard-to-reach stuff such as the interior ridges of coffee pots. If you have more of them, you can put one in a cleaning caddy, and one wherever else you think you may need one.
• Sterilize as mentioned and then use for a paint splatter effect with art. Dip the bristles in colorful paint, bring them back with your thumb and draw your thumb back. The bristles will right themselves and fling paint in droplets. Will create random dots of color on any given surface.

Plastic buttons

• Idea from Crafts and Creativity, a blog that seems to have disappeared. Can help tie parcels together with string. You know the string criss-cross thing that people use to tie packages together? Using a button can help with that. Basic idea is go vertically through the button (up then down) and around the parcel then horizontally through the button and around the parcel. Thread the working ends through the button again going up through the hole on either side, or over the button if that isn't possible, and tie a bowtie.

Plastic lids

• Use as a drip catcher when you're cooking so the liquid from the spoon or whatever doesn't get all over the counter

Plastic tic-tac containers

• Wash, strip off the labels, dry. Fill with spices, label, and take on trips, while traveling, while camping, etc. There was an Instructable for this, actually. I will probably add the link for it at some point.

Five-gallon buckets

• Use to water trees during heat waves if you don't have a hose or can't use one
• Use a hole punch, drill, or knife to cut holes in the top. Line the top with some spare pantyhose to keep it from anaerobic fermentation but still keep bugs out. Store compost in it between trips to compost pile. Generally a better idea for families than the coffee can idea since it fills up a lot faster
• Whenever cleaning literally anything, the five-gallon bucket is very helpful. Either to dip and re-dip rags or whatever in or to dump liquids in for discarding later, or for some other purpose. In fact you can use this as a cheap cleaning caddy.
• Use as a garden caddy to carry tools, seeds, harvested stuff, whatever

Plastic pill containers

• Wash and rinse well and let dry. Decorate the outside to make it clear that this isn't just an empty pill container. Colorful duct tape and sharpie is the quickest option here. Use as storage container for the following: Hair ties, D&D dice, pens and pencils, money, mini first-aid kit.
• GameVortexGeck0's Instructable
• DIYnCrafts collection
• One Crazy House collection

Plastic supplement containers, larger than plastic pill containers but also opaque

• Fill with spare change for tolls. Label and put in a car.
• Use to store plastic bags, labeling with duct tape and sharpie. Good for camping and storing in a car.
• Use to store extra socks and undergarments, labeling with duct tape and sharpie. Good for camping and storing in a car.

Plastic drinking straws

• Use for straw weaving with good yarn or twine, to make things like bookmarks, belts, headbands and whatever else you can do with straw weaving

Plastic bread bags

• Make sandwiches, then stash them in the bread bag. Very portable and good for travel, commuting, work, brown-bag lunches and picnics.

Plastic coffee cans

• Store toilet paper in these in car trunks, just in case, next to a garden trowel
• Use a hole punch, drill, or knife to cut holes in the top. Line the top with a coffee filter and maybe some glue to keep it there, or with some spare pantyhose. Store compost in it between trips to compost pile

Cool art or creations people have made of plastic

• Plastic Tides exhibit by David Kemp

Miscellaneous images from the Internet

Upcycling

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