Put a cap onto your waste by rethinking bottle caps

So we’ve all learned how to better recycle our plastics — our bottles go in the recycling bin, our bottle caps and go in the garbage. Right? Not quite! While that certainly use to be the case, there are now recycling options for lids too. As well, if you’re into up-cycling, there are some really cool projects you can delve into. Certainly, the best choice for the environment and our health is to avoid plastic whenever possible (don’t buy bottled water, choose cans over bottles when you can, etc.). However, in today’s world it’s difficult to completely avoid plastic as it’s everywhere, from your shampoo bottle, to your milk jug, to the juice you grab on the way to work. Therefore, let’s look at consumer use realistically and understand what we can do to reduce our impact with the plastic that we purchase. First though, let’s look at why plastic lids were considered destined to the garbage for all these years. Bottle caps are made from No. 5 plastic. Plastic bottles are typically made from No. 1 (water bottles) or No. 2 (milk jugs) plastic. “In the early stages of recycling, like the ‘90s, it was mostly about bottles. Around 95 to 96 percent of the bottles that are manufactured are either 1 or 2,” said Judith Dunbar, director of environmental and technical issues (plastics) for the American Chemistry Council. Of that remaining 4 percent, she says, No. 5 (polypropylene) represents maybe 1 percent. However, because 5 has a similar type resin to that of 2, many reclaimers have started finding ways to incorporate it into other products. Although most municipalities didn’t recycle plastic lids until just recently, at least 28 out of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. now do. More than likely, you’ll have to make a trip to the actual recycle station to so as very few recycling pick-up programs accept them. For the Inland Northwest, these locations include the Valley Recycling Transfer Station, Waste-to-Energy Plant, North County Recycling, FAFB Recycling and Medical Lake Recycling. As well, there are other companies which have started accepting them such as Aveda Salons, Whole Foods, mail-in companies such as Preserve Gimme 5 and Caps Can Do that specialize in recycling No. 5 plastic (which also includes plastic containers such as yogurt cups and drinking cups and any other plastic product stamped with the 5). An easy referral site is Earth 911. Just enter what you’re looking to recycle, then your zip code and voila!—locations where you can be rid of your unwanted items and walk away with a clean conscience, are at your fingertips! Another reason why lids weren’t accepted as recyclables for so long, is if you leave the cap on your plastic bottle when you throw it in the recycle bin, chances are the bottle has not been crushed. These uncrushed bottles with lids on can cause risk of injury to recycling workers. According to Earth911, when bottles are crushed for shipment, caps that are left on the bottles can shoot off at high speeds, causing a safety hazard for recycling workers. This is one of the reasons why they are still not accepted for pick-up; many people would just leave the lids on, adding more sorting time for the recycling workers. When you drop lids off at a recycling station, you are required to separate your lids from your containers. Now to upcycling lids. With so many colors and fun designs now a part of plastic lids (and aluminum and steel caps as well), getting creative with caps is limitless when you put on your creative caps. Lids can be used as counting items (or math manipulatives, as math teachers call them) for young children to count, add and subtract, or be made into artwork and/or crafty items at all skill levels. Here are some ideas that will hopefully inspire and motivate you to save those caps and go on to create your own crafty art. • Grab the kiddos and get silly while turning old bottle caps into these cute ladybug toys, slinky snakes, and coo-coo cap birds. • A pair of plastic bottle caps plus some dry rice and a few stickers makes adorable mini shakers for shaking up some fun! • Display your kids’ artwork with these old bottle caps turned cute fridge magnets. • Throwing an Easter Party? These sweet little eggs-in-a-nest are perfect for a take-home gift. • Love and Lollipops shows you how to sweeten up your old plastic caps by turning them into sweet miniature cakes perfect for a miniature bakery. • String your plastic caps up on twine or fishing line to create a beautiful hanging art piece! • Ellen at The Long Thread shows you how to use old plastic caps to make your own stamps. • Turn a bunch of old caps into this super-fun toy superhero • What about some life-size lollipops for a whimsical birthday party theme perhaps? • Separate your caps by color, and use them to create collages such as this beautiful flower design. • Are you a seamstress? Plastic bottle caps make a good base for a mini pincushion. • Create moulds and turn old plastic caps into a new knife handle! (WARNING: melting plastic indoors can greatly affect indoor air quality. Crack a window, turn fans on, and try to stay out of the room except to check on your project’s progress.) • String up multi-colored plastic caps along with other salvaged plastic to make colorful streamers. • Make your bars of soap last longer with this handmade plastic cap soap dish. • For a little more advanced project, try these ideas for a stool and a purse on for size.