Reuse and upcycle plastic for wildlife

Environmental conservation is more important than ever before, but it can be fun, too! Reusing, recycling, and upcycling plastic helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans and gives rubbish a new life.  

Here are some fun ways to make a difference by mending, recycling, and upcycling plastic you’ll have at home… 

Small changes to reduce plastic waste

Before we get crafting, there are small steps we can all take in our everyday lives to reduce plastic waste and have a positive impact on the world around us: 

Cut back on single-use plastics

It’s easy to opt for plastic bags, bottles, and other items that we use just once before having to throw them away, but using reusable alternatives can help cut plastic pollution. By buying tote bags, compostable bin liners, beeswax food wraps, or using a flask or reusable bottle, you can easily cut back on your own plastic waste and save money in the long run, too! 

Remember to recycle

Change starts at home – so, don’t forget to recycle any plastic bottles, paper, tins, electronics, and batteries kerbside or at other nearby recycling locations. Learning how to properly dispose of these products can help reduce your impact on the environment. 

Get mending

By mending your clothing instead of throwing pieces out, you are helping ensure that your wardrobe lasts longer, reducing waste and slowing down just how much you consume. Time to get upcycling

Unlike recycling, where materials are broken down to make new ones, upcycling transforms waste into new and exciting items. Here are some projects that will combine creativity with conservation, turning every-day pollutants into art:

Bug hotel

Get creative and craft a home for the critters in your garden!

Materials needed

• Empty plastic bottles (various sizes).
• Cardboard tubes (from toilet paper or kitchen towels).
• Twigs and branches.
• Moss, leaves, and pine needles.
• Strong tape or glue. 
• Scissors. 

Instructions

• Prepare the bottles: Wash and dry your chosen bottles thoroughly. Cut off the top and neck of the bottle to create a larger opening.
• Create layers: Place the bottles, your cardboard tubes, and twigs in a stack. Alternate between the materials to create a variety of habitats for different insects. Secure these together by using your tape or glue.
• Add natural elements: Fill the gaps between the structure with moss, leaves, and pine needles. These can help provide insulation, food and more hiding places for the bugs.
• Add a roof: You can create a roof using a piece of plastic or wood, helping keep the critters dry when it rains.
• Find a spot for your hotel: Choose a sunny location in your garden or on your balcony. 

Top tip: Lean the hotel against a tree or wall to help provide some stability.

Bird feeders

Creating bird feeders from plastic bottles gives you a chance to help wildlife in an affordable way! 

Materials needed

• Empty plastic bottles.
• Wooden spoons or sticks.
• String or wire.
• Birdseed.
• Scissors.
• Glue.

Instructions

• Prepare the bottle: Clean and dry the bottle and make two small holes near the bottom of for the wooden spoons or sticks to pass through.
• Insert perches: Insert the wooden spoons or sticks through the holes, as these will serve as perches for the birds who’ll use your feeder.
  
  • Important: Try to make the holes as smooth as possible, to avoid any injuries in birds. 
• Make feeding holes: Cut small feeding holes above each perch so the birds can access the food you’re providing. 
• Prepare the feeder: Attach a string or wire to the top of your bottle and fill it with birdseed. 
• Hang it outside: Place your bird feeder in the garden, outside your window, or on your balcony where birds can easily access it!
  • Remember: Make sure it’s out of reach of any cats or squirrels…

Why not? You could use plastic food containers or single use trays as bird baths to go alongside your new feeder. 

Planters for pollinators

Plastic bottles can also be upcycled into planters, creating mini habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Materials needed:

• Large plastic bottles.
• Scissors.
• Non-toxic paint.
• Soil.
• Seeds (flowers that attract pollinators);
  • Lavender.
  • Heather.
  • Bluebell.

Instructions

• Cut the bottles: Cut the bottles in half or make a large opening on one side to create your planter.
• Decorate your bottles: If you want to add some colour, paint the outside of the bottles with some creative designs!
• Plant your seeds: Fill the bottles with soil and plant your chosen seeds that will grow into flowers for pollinators.
• Place outside: Place (or even hang!) the planters in a sunny spot, away from your pet’s reach, and watch as the flowers grow. 

And that’s it! Get gathering those plastic bottles and start crafting for a greener, friendlier planet. Your local wildlife will thank you.