If you've ever wondered what happens to a plastic bottle once it's been discarded, you're not alone. Plastic bottles enter a complex global system, where they're sold, shipped, melted, and recycled. They're reused as clothes, bottles, and even carpet. This cycle is made more complicated by the fact that plastic doesn't decompose and has an assumed lifespan of 500 years. So how do we get rid of them?
Water Bottle Plastic
In a recent study, researchers identified more than 400 substances in water bottles. This is more than the number of substances found in dishwasher soap. A large portion of the substances found in water are hazardous to human health, including photo-initiators, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens. They also found that the plastics used in water bottles contained plastic softeners and Diethyltoluamide, an active ingredient in mosquito spray.
The materials used in water bottles come in various densities. Some of them are made of high-density polyethylene, while others are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). HDPE is the most rigid material, while LDPE is more flexible. Most commonly associated with collapsible squeeze bottles, LDPE is a cheaper alternative for bottles that are designed to be easily wiped clean. It has a long shelf-life, making it an ideal choice for those who want a durable yet environmentally friendly water bottle.
While all plastics are recyclable, not all plastic bottles are created equally. This is important for recycling purposes, as different types of plastics have different uses. Plastic #1 includes water bottles and peanut butter jars. The US alone throws away about 60 million plastic water bottles each day, and these are the only bottles manufactured from domestic raw materials. Fortunately, this number is increasing. If you're wondering how to recycle the water bottle you bought, here's some information you should know.
Plastic Bottle Craft
When you have a child who loves to create things, a great idea is to turn plastic bottles into crafts. There are many different crafts that can be made with these containers. There are several ways to decorate a bottle, but a fun one to make is a bottle scene. First, cut a piece of plastic bottle into an oval or rectangle shape. Once you have your piece, glue it to a cardboard base. Once dry, you can paint or decorate it.
You can choose any color of plastic bottles to weave. The trick is to use odd numbers of cuts, so the last row will be even. This makes the weaving process easier. Using an odd number of cuts will also keep the pattern in place. For kids, a few strips of plastic at a time can make a lovely flower. You can make this project with your child as long as they have a steady hand and can handle the materials well.
Another option is to recycle the plastic bottles. One way to recycle them is to create a woven basket from the plastic bottles. You can cover the inside with a felt liner. Another great use for a plastic bottle is as an organizer. If you've got a desk, you can make a nice tray from the bottles and keep your desk clutter-free. It's a great way to recycle plastic bottles and won't cost you a penny.
Empty Plastic Bottle
In recent years, powerful earthquakes and hurricanes have wreaked havoc on coastal areas and beyond. Many people are left without water, food, and other basic needs for months or even years. With these tragedies in mind, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are tackling the problem of disaster preparedness with a new project: the Empty Bottle. These plastic bottles are recyclable and can be reused in numerous ways. However, their inherent shortcomings limit their usefulness. For example, PET does not have a high glass transition temperature, which causes shrinkage and cracking during hot filling. Also, they are not good at resisting gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen, and polar solvents can easily corrode them.
Another way to repurpose an empty plastic bottle is to make a smartphone charger pocket from it. This project requires a small amount of decoupage and scissor work, but the results are well worth the effort. The project can be found at Make It Love It, where step-by-step photos show how to make an empty plastic bottle charger pocket. Once you have the basic supplies, you're ready to make a smartphone charger pocket!
Another way to use an empty plastic bottle is as a sneezing alien or water vortex. Another cool activity is to make a water-filled balloon inside the bottle, or a sneezing alien. If you're up for a little challenge, you can even try the Tsunami in a Bottle experiment. This activity simulates a tsunami, but instead of a real tsunami, it's a fake one!
Post time: Aug-08-2022