Asked on Feb 16, 2015
I need ideas to recycle plastic pill bottles, thanks
by Fracas
+50
I have many empty small and medium plastic pill bottles every months. Anyone have ideas for recycling? Thank you! France, Qc, Canada
46 answers
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I bead and stash my beads inside them.
![Tom Jama Shane]()
Tom Jama Shane
on Feb 16, 2015
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Thank you Tom Jama Shane but I don't have beads!
![Fracas]()
Fracas
on Feb 16, 2015
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Bonjour, France. I'm also from Quebec and have a bunch of these bottles lying around. My husband wants to use them in the garage for collecting small things. I'll be interested in seeing if there are more creative ideas for them. Bonne journée! :)
![Marj MRC Creations]()
Marj MRC Creations
on Feb 16, 2015
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I use them in my sewing cabinet to store snaps and hooks and eyes. I also keep one in my sewing machine drawer to stash bent and broken pins and needles so they don't go into the trash and hurt someone. Another way I reuse them is to portion out about a week's worth of the few medications and herbal supplements I take. I have them in my "to go" bag in case we have to drop everything and hurry to assist one of our children. Most live several hours' driving distance and doing this allows me to pack quickly without forgetting my meds.
![Swan Road Designs]()
Swan Road Designs
on Feb 16, 2015
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Loose coins like pennys, nickles, etc. Makes it easy to wrap them for the bank .
![NancyD]()
NancyD
on Feb 16, 2015
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Will your pharmacist re use them for your prescriptions?
![Fab and Pretty]()
Fab and Pretty
on Feb 16, 2015
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Perfect size to put herbs in when going RVing or camping.
![Janie Lewis]()
Janie Lewis
on Feb 16, 2015
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I grow my own herbs, dry them and use some of the bottles to store them in. If you don't grow herbs, some of the stores with bulk foods have them. Also, as above, I use some for storing my emergency pills that I keep in my purse and to use when packing for a weekend trip and so does my husband. Otherwise, we strip the labels and throw most of them into our recycle bin. I'm not sure if Canada has a recycle program for those, though.
![Bonny McDaniel]()
Bonny McDaniel
on Feb 16, 2015
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Seeds & straight pins.
![Bobbi Parker]()
Bobbi Parker
on Feb 16, 2015
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Safety pins, thumb tack, snaps, buttons, sewing bobbins, hand lotion for my purse etc.
![Nancy]()
Nancy
on Feb 16, 2015
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A stash for loose straight pins
![Donna Merelli Wise]()
Donna Merelli Wise
on Feb 16, 2015
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A woman here where I live covers them nicely with material a little rick rack and it is now a Quarter holder for the Laundry room !
![Kathleen Walsh]()
Kathleen Walsh
on Feb 16, 2015
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I put candy in them with a prescription form on the outside: saying something like: Grumpy. Take something sweet. etc.
![Diane]()
Diane
on Feb 16, 2015
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Sewing and craft items, coins, small nails, salad dressing for my lunch - I use them for many things!
![Eileen Drake]()
Eileen Drake
on Feb 16, 2015
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I saw a pin or post somewhere that had them upside down, capped, and a skewer poked thru the smallest hole in the cap you can get by with. Then the bottle is a plant marker. Put a little card/note inside with the name of the plant. Use it as a small stake in the ground. Protected and safe. Reusable.
![Kim Smith]()
Kim Smith
on Feb 16, 2015
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Store a pair of earings so they don't get lost, a fine silver or gold chain so it doesn't break. Nylon anklets, kneehighs or panty hose so they don't run- I think they'll fit! Throw all the bottles into a nice basket or decorative box and grab when you need it!
![ASPURLING]()
ASPURLING
on Feb 16, 2015
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my husband puts change In them and then gives them to our great grand children for their birthday or Christmas as a little something extra just from him .if rhey are clear my son made a bird feeder Christmas ornament with them
![Cora burke]()
Cora burke
on Feb 17, 2015
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im keeping them too. Hubby wants them in the garbage. I hate to throw out usuable things. ugh
![Irishkay]()
Irishkay
on Feb 17, 2015
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1.Attach a 4 inch pill bottle SECURELY to a reciprocating saw blade with Duct tape. 2.Insert blade in saw. 3. Insert your aged paint bottle into pill jar with tight lid. 4. Replace lid on pill bottle SECURELY. 5. Hold on FIRMLY to saw when you engage. 6. Hold the saw on position for a few seconds. 7. Check paint and repeat if necessary.
![Xylvia]()
Xylvia
on Feb 17, 2015
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I've been recycling mine.... From now on I will save them. I should put my loose beads in them, love the needles n pin holder idea, hand lotion. I might just decorate them somehow to make them pretty. Hum! I'll come up with something and post it.
![Suzanne]()
Suzanne
on Feb 17, 2015
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Spice containers.
![Nancy B]()
Nancy B
on Feb 17, 2015
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make a travel "sewing kit", needle, threader, buttons, safety pins, thread-you can wrap several colors around a little strip of cardstock. I have one with polymer clay inside to take with me. Oh, you could make an "emergency survival" fishing or fire starting kit. fishing line, hooks, leads and a float. cotton with chapstick for tinder, tiny magnifying lens for using the sun to start, waterproof matches or a flint striker, some paracord or other "survival" material, like folded up aluminum foil. The larger bottles would be great for that.
![Susan Rasmussen]()
Susan Rasmussen
on Feb 17, 2015
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I use the empty containers to hold beads and other small things, like buttons, etc..
![Sandra]()
Sandra
on Feb 17, 2015
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Donate them to a no kill animal shelter. They can use them for medicine they dispense.
![Vera]()
Vera
on Feb 17, 2015
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I use them with things like safety pins,same color buttons, but i have been thinking i may put a house key inside one the bury it in my garden in case i lock myself out of the house AGAIN
![Donna n]()
Donna n
on Feb 18, 2015
- See 2 previous
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Thank you everybody. I'm still looking for an inpiration to do something more artistic like a lamp, or a sculpture!
![Fracas]()
Fracas
on Feb 18, 2015
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Great for tooth picks and other small items I wonder if they can b used to make popsicles?
![Eglehawk]()
Eglehawk
on Feb 18, 2015
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USE TO PUT HOMEMADE LIP BALM IN
![Laurie]()
Laurie
on Feb 18, 2015
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These are great for storing a unique shade of paint that an artist has mixed for a project. I go to art classes and these are always needed... Maybe a Folk Art, or craft group in your area would appreciate them... Cheers...
![Nerida]()
Nerida
on Feb 19, 2015
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Maybe you could drill a hole in the bottom and push white led lights or mini lights (Christmas lights) up into them. just an idea, haven't tried it. Have done it with ping-pong balls but they are easy to cut with an exacto knife.
![Susan Rasmussen]()
Susan Rasmussen
on Feb 19, 2015
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you could string them and make 'dolls', kind of like making a tin man out of tin cans maybe?
![Susan Rasmussen]()
Susan Rasmussen
on Feb 19, 2015
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If you know any elementary school teachers they might want them for their students to put play money...coins for storage. Each child would get one to use to practice how to count money. They just need to be washed thoroughly before they would use them.
![Holly]()
Holly
on Sep 16, 2015
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![Peggye]()
Peggye
on Jan 18, 2017
Our bottles are white, I remove label and use a permanent maker, label saying SHARPS for test strips and test strips disposal. Peggy-Mt. Clemens, Michigan -
![Scott Graham]()
Scott Graham
on Jan 29, 2017
What I do with one of mine is to put Q-tips in, ao that after a shower or a swim in the pool I can clean out my ears/ dry them before heading outside. -
![Anita Bolz]()
Anita Bolz
on Jan 29, 2017
I use them for nails, hair pins, candy, pins, push pins. aspirin, dog treats, earrings. -
![Carol]()
Carol
on Jan 31, 2017
Film canisters with snap-on lids can have part of Alka-Seltzer tablet & water, turn upside down onto the lid & stand back. BLAST OFF! but lid must snap on, not screw on. Kids science experiment! Your medicine bottles look similar, if lids snap on. Great for July 1st Canadian or July 4th US fireworks type celebration. But stand back! -
![Nancy]()
Nancy
on Feb 01, 2017
I reuse pill bottles for lots of things. Paper clips, safety pins, grommets, buttons, bobbins. -
![Ann]()
Ann
on Feb 01, 2017
I collect a lot of seeds, so use them for storing seeds. -
Fill them with your loose change. Quarters, nickels, dimes... none of those penny's thou LOL Some of the bottles will fit perfectly for each size of coin. If you have children or grandchildren, label the outside of each container, then gift them or, take them to an arcade place to play games with the coins, or.. just save the money up for yourself. When I shop, I only give the cashiers penny's.. no silver. If my bill comes to $7.47, I give the clerk $8.02 (Or $10.02) that way I will get back 55 cents in silver. I currently have almost $300 saved up in silver coins and this summer it's going for my new kitchen floor!
![Mary]()
Mary
on Feb 05, 2017
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![Eco Lady......]()
Eco Lady......
on Feb 08, 2017
Wash them out and give them to your veterinarian to reuse.... -
![Phyllis Virga]()
Phyllis Virga
on Feb 10, 2017
When I buy hard candy in a bag, I can't carry the bag in my handbag so I use a pill bottle, label it, put the candy in or Tums and put it in my handbag. -
![Pfaffie7570]()
Pfaffie7570
on Feb 12, 2017
Locally, the pill bottles are being collected to be give to "Doctors Without Borders" to use when they go overseas. -
![Sonia Sunny Rogers]()
Sonia Sunny Rogers
on Feb 13, 2017
I donate mine to the local Humane Society after washing them. -
![UpLATEagain]()
UpLATEagain
on Feb 16, 2017
http://m25m.org/pillbottles/ -
![Colleen Baugus]()
Colleen Baugus
on Feb 17, 2017
THINS LIKE NAILS AND SCREWS, BEADS, BREAD TIES, I PUT MY EARINGS IN THEM WHEN I TRAVEL -
![Fauxgal]()
Fauxgal
on Oct 18, 2017
Have you seen this one? for seeds?![]()
Tom Jama Shane
on Feb 16, 2015
Fracas
on Feb 16, 2015
Marj MRC Creations
on Feb 16, 2015
Swan Road Designs
on Feb 16, 2015
NancyD
on Feb 16, 2015
Fab and Pretty
on Feb 16, 2015
Janie Lewis
on Feb 16, 2015
Bonny McDaniel
on Feb 16, 2015
Bobbi Parker
on Feb 16, 2015
Nancy
on Feb 16, 2015
Donna Merelli Wise
on Feb 16, 2015
Kathleen Walsh
on Feb 16, 2015
Diane
on Feb 16, 2015
Eileen Drake
on Feb 16, 2015
Kim Smith
on Feb 16, 2015
ASPURLING
on Feb 16, 2015
Cora burke
on Feb 17, 2015
Irishkay
on Feb 17, 2015
Xylvia
on Feb 17, 2015
Suzanne
on Feb 17, 2015
Nancy B
on Feb 17, 2015
Sandra
on Feb 17, 2015
Vera
on Feb 17, 2015
Donna n
on Feb 18, 2015
Eglehawk
on Feb 18, 2015
Holly
on Sep 16, 2015
Peggye
on Jan 18, 2017
Scott Graham
on Jan 29, 2017
Anita Bolz
on Jan 29, 2017
Carol
on Jan 31, 2017
Ann
on Feb 01, 2017
Mary
on Feb 05, 2017
Eco Lady......
on Feb 08, 2017
Phyllis Virga
on Feb 10, 2017
Pfaffie7570
on Feb 12, 2017
Sonia Sunny Rogers
on Feb 13, 2017
UpLATEagain
on Feb 16, 2017
Colleen Baugus
on Feb 17, 2017
Fauxgal
on Oct 18, 2017
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