When I was a young man, the milkman would deliver us a crate of ice-cold milk in glass carafes. We would return the bottles (pre- recycling days) in exchange for another crate of delicious milk. Sadly, those days are long gone and now we buy our milk in paper or plastic containers at a grocery store.
Hopefully, you are one who recycles these containers. However, have you ever thought about how you can use your milk containers for everyday household needs? Well, here are twelve fun and creative ways to re-use your milk cartons and save a little money at the same time.
The first list will cover six paper milk containers, and the second will cover six plastic milk cartons.
PAPER MILK CONTAINERS
1. Planter: This is a great way to start a small plant in the home.
2. Pencil Holder: A lightweight and easy way to store pencils.
3. Small Storage Holder: A good way to store small household items like paper clips and nails etc.
4. Paint Container: An efficient way to conquer those small touch-up jobs.
5. Vase: An inexpensive way to provide a home for a plant.
6. Building Blocks: A great one for the kids and they can have fun designing their blocks with paint or magic markers.
PLASTIC MILK CONTAINERS
1. Funnel: A good alternative if you need to pour gas in a lawnmower or transfer liquids into a small container.
2. Scooper: Use it to scoop dirt in the garden or fun for the kids to use in the sand.
3. Dirt Weight: Fill it up with dirt to weight down objects that might float away on a windy day, like a tarp on a woodpile.
4. Food Container: A good way to store your snacks or dry goods, like sugar or rice.
5. Plastic Bag Container: This is a great place to keep extra plastic shopping bags.
6. Bird Feeder: An inexpensive and great project for the kids.
Coulter Bright is the President and founder of Bend Environmental, Inc., an independent third party testing and consulting company specializing in environmental hazards.
541-749-8699, 740 NE Third Street Suite 3 #268, Bend, OR 97701, www.BendEnvironmental.com, Coulter@BendEnvironmental.com
(Photo above: CBN)
