Loading ...Sorting Plastic Containers
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This morning I was grabbing a bowl out of the cupboard and knocked over a batch of plastic containers we have stored in the cupboard for left-overs. It appears that we have reached that fine line that is saving for a need and saving just to cut down on waste or for the ‘just in case I need this’ situation.
One of the things that I noticed growing up when my mother would save containers is that she would save a few of various sizes but anything beyond that got pitched. even though she tried to keep a limit on what she kept for plastic containers they still seemed to breed like bunnies, and had to be sorted every few months.
It appears that we have reached that stage as well and it is time to decide what is needed and used and what is not.
First, I have my limits on how much to keep. The stacks can’t be too tall that I have to pull out the who stack to get to a container.
Second, I have to be able to see to the back of the cupboard and view all the containers that I do have.
Once one or both of these limits has been reached then it is time to cut down on what I’ve got. At this point I start my seperation on what is to go.
First to go are the cracked or severly stained containers. True I could sun-bleach the stains out or even tape up the cracks, but at this stage, I have enough that I don’t NEED to keep them.
Second to go are the ones that have not been used in a while (odd shapes), ones without lids or containers that I have in triplicate already, (butter containers anyone?) or ones with warped lids that don’t fit any longer.
Finally, I look over what is left and decide if what I have left is enough to live with. Barring left-overs from a major holiday dinner, it usually is.
Now, in my earnestness to save on waste, I have simply delayed it. Though I have used and reused the containers, I eventually still have to get rid of them somehow.
Here are some ways I have tried to get rid of them:
Put them up on Freecycle - no takers
Put them up in ‘Free’ area of craigslist - no takers
Use them to put items in under the sink
Use them to take treats to work and not worry about getting the container back
Use extra lids to put parts on if something needs to be fixed (nuts and bolts don’t roll with a rim)
They are good for a piggy bank
Use the lidless ones as scoops
What would you suggest I do with the plastic containers?
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Have you checked to see if your curbside recycling will take any? Our recycler takes more and more different plastics than they used to.
We use a lot of those clear type ones to store ‘like’ things together in the garage for string, screws, nails, spare lightbulbs, etc.
December 12th, 2007 at 8:38 pmYou might try your local animal shelter. Seems like some of them might be usable for food/water dishes or scoops for big bags of food.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:59 pmI have used some in my garage for storage and for home projects such as painting. There’s a large rubbermaid storage bin filled with them and normal tupperware type containers that I keep in the garage off my kitchen.
there are some things that you can’t give away though. I had probably 5 years worth of at least 6-8 different magazines and I tried freecycle and craigslist. They’re good for giving away at garage sales but thats about the only way I could get rid of them where the had some type of reuse
December 13th, 2007 at 1:47 amCheck with a local daycare or preschool, see if they can use them for art projects, either to store supplies or possibly as paint tubs, etc.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:59 amK -
We don’t have curbside or complex recycling area here, but I will check around to see what is available and how far away the reycle center is.
Sylvia-
That might be the best way, I will give them a call.
Xshanex - You may be right, I may just put it out at the dumpster and let people pick what they want.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:32 amI cut up the plastic into strips onto which i write plant names for garden
December 13th, 2007 at 8:38 ammarkers.
If the local animal shelter doesn’t need them, why not make a snowman out of them?
Or you could try a local preschool. When our youngest was that age, it seemed they needed all sorts of “ordinary” things for craft projects.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:04 amYou don’t have curbside recycling in the year 2007?! Wow, you should definitely be lobbying for that.
However, on the subject of plastic containers, I am starting to wonder whether plastic is all that great an idea especially if it will come in contact with your food. Google “plastic free” or “life without plastic” for more info.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:38 amI work at a zoo and we are usually in need of them to make ice treats in the summer. We re-use the yogurt cups with lids in daily diets for enrichment items. Once they are used as many times as possible we recycle them.
December 14th, 2007 at 6:51 pmOur education department uses them in art projects with their children’s classes.
I’m not sure if all zoos need them but it’s worth a try.
my potter friend is ALWAYS in need of them to keep her Glazes. Between friends, we giver her the containers so she can keep making beautiful art works:)
December 15th, 2007 at 9:27 amI too do not have any recycling available except for pop cans. Maybe someday. I use my containers to feed the cats. When they get too bad I just throw them away. I think the local animal shelter can use them also. When I take leftovers to work I can just throw the container away. I too am leary of re-using plastics too much because of leaching of chemicals into the food.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:09 amWe save our old plastic containers and put them in the garage over the winter. Then, in the spring, my hubby uses them to grow our flowers from seed. We save all of the seeds from year to year, and I haven’t bought any flowers for at least 5 years now! We grow our own Marigolds, pansies, petunias, and zinnias. Plus we have other flowers that are the bulb type that we grow. This year, we have so many seeds that hubby is going to start some for the neighbors. If you want some marilgold seeds, send me an email on where I can send them to you, and I will be more than glad to get rid of some of them!
December 16th, 2007 at 8:35 pmI use coffee containers from the office to gather the grounds for my compost, then rinse them and put used kitty litter in them (the lid contains the odor) - tape them when they are full, put a warning note on them and throw them away.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:52 amI donate all of my containers to the food bank. They need them to divide up food to give to families.
December 17th, 2007 at 7:56 amYour approach isn’t particularly green or proactive. All those empty containers represent both over-packaging from the manufacturer and a lack of responsibility from the retailer to create a lifecycle program for the products they represent.
Start by refusing to make purchases of any product which appears to be over-packaged; then choose only packaging with a recycling symbol which is consistent with your area’s recycling program; talk to the store manager about your concerns about over-packaging; and finally, to demonstrate your concern, return the packaging to the store and request that they find a way to return it to the manufacturer for proper treatment.
Be proactive. You’ll feel empowered.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 am