With the population growing each day, it is obvious that more and more babies are born, and that comes with the use of baby bottles as well. It is a troubling fact, especially with the impact of plastic pollution in the world. The best solution to this staggering number is to learn how to recycle it. But can baby bottles be recycled? Baby bottles are versatile feeding items in your kitchen, and they can surely be more than that. In this article, you will learn the kinds of baby bottles and the many ways you can recycle them.
Kinds of Baby Bottles
Before we go into the details of recycling baby bottles, let us first learn the three common types of baby bottles in the market. Rest assured, all three are reusable and recyclable:
Plastic
Plastic baby bottles are the most common. You can find it in any store. They are less expensive compared to those with disposable liners and glass bottles. Not only that, but they are also lightweight and less likely to break. Just make sure they are BPA-free.
Plastic with Disposable Liners
These are the same with plastic bottles, but come with liners that you need to change every after feeding. They are more expensive than regular baby bottles.
Glass
Personally, glass baby bottles are the best, but they are too costly, heavy, and fragile. They are also hard to find. But with glass bottles, you are sure there are no chemicals and easier to clean.
Recycling Old Baby Bottles
So, let us answer that question: “Can baby bottles be recycled?” Since they are of glass and plastic, both materials are reusable, and recyclable—old baby bottles can have a new purpose in your home, or someone else’s! Check out some of the creative ideas you can do to your baby’s bottles.
Animal Shelter
You can donate your old bottles to animal shelters to use the feeding bottles for newborn puppies, kittens, or other baby animals.
Baby Shower Gift
Forgot that your friend is celebrating a baby shower? No time to look for a gift? Well, you can make your own with your old baby bottles! Make a cute design outside the bottle, grab some Japanese art paper, crumple them and place into the bottle, and tie a ribbon around it. You now have an instant and perfect baby shower gift!
Crayon Holders
Baby bottles, especially your 5 ounces, can be cute crayon holders when your baby grew into a toddler and in preschool. You can paint the bottle’s interior with different colors, let it dry, and transfer the crayons from the box to the new holder!
Candy Jars
You can convert your old baby bottles into candy jars! Use them as sprinkle and lemon drop holders. You can even put in lollipops, Hershey’s Kisses, M&M’s, and Skittles. You can line them up in the corner of your kitchen cupboard, and they will look so cute and enticing.
Candles
Did you know that you can recycle baby bottles and transform them into candles? Prepare your candle wax, be it scented or not. Pour the wax into the bottle—let it cool and dry first. Then, you can paint a beautiful decoration of your style onto the bottle. Now, you have a candle!
Donate to Charity
There are orphanages around the state that you can donate your old baby bottles too. With proper sterilization and sanitation, your bottles can go a long way, especially for young ones who do not have a home to live in and a mother to rely on.
Home Decoration
This tip is one of my favorite repurposing ideas for old baby bottles. You can fill your baby bottles with colored sand, glitter, shredded colored papers, and other artsy stuff. You can let your creativity, passion, and imagination run wild with this.
Installation Art
If you are an artist mom, you can surely make installation art and sculpture using old baby bottles. You can place it outside your garden as an added decoration, and even place it in art studios for display or even sell it!
Liquid Container
Holding breast milk and formula milk is not the only thing your baby bottles can do. It can hold any liquid! You can reuse the bottles to store liquid detergent, dishwashing soap, oil, and other fluids.
Lubricant Holder
Are you tired of squeaky doors and gates? You can use your baby bottles as a lubricant oil container. Use the nipple to apply the lubricant on the hinges.
Measuring Cups
Your baby bottles have measuring marks on them, and you can reuse them as perfect measuring cups for baking and other purposes!
Medicine Bottle
You can use baby bottles to store your medication and other first aid kit items, such as cotton balls and Q-tips. You can even use the bottles to separate your daily pills.
Piggy Bank
Old baby bottles are a perfect piggy bank alternative! You can place in coins and bills, and you can use those savings for your kid’s college fund. Can baby bottles be recycled? Sure, they can! And with more benefits to boot!
Powder Container
Running out of jars and want to save up? You can use old baby bottles to hold your coffee granules, creamer, sugar, and even salt. There is no need to spend on expensive glass jars anymore.
Seedling Pots
Another favorite of mine, because I love gardening—you can use your old baby bottles as seedling pots! Those bottles with valves at the bottom are perfect. But if you do not have those, you can simply pop a hole on the bottom of the bottle so that water can drain out when you water your growing plants.
Can You Recycle Baby Bottles?
Again, can baby bottles be recycled? Well, given all the many ways mentioned, you can recycle and repurpose old baby bottles, the answer then is, definitely, yes! The list above is just several brilliant ideas, but I am sure you can find more creative ways to use your baby’s old bottles. It is all in the imagination!
Conclusion
Again, can baby bottles be recycled? Well, given all the many ways mentioned, you can recycle and repurpose old baby bottles, the answer then is, definitely, yes! The list above is just several brilliant ideas, but I am sure you can find more creative ways to use your baby’s old bottles. It is all in the imagination! Know more about baby bottles.