New Uses for Plastic Margarine/Butter/Yogurt Containers

A lot of food we eat comes in plastic containers. Just think about it. Spreadable butter, margarines, sour cream, cream cheese, dips, yogurt, hummus, and even some cheeses like feta or cheese spreads. That's a lot of plastic. Here's some handy tips on what you can do with it.

• Sorting and organizing. Many of these tubs are great for storing the pieces to a board game or keeping the puzzle pieces you just sorted seperate, or for storing all sorts of things like paper clips, beads, etc.
• Use it for painting. We used them for the edging in portion of painting rooms, or you can use them for small painting projects, or for painting with the kids.
• Make it into a piggy bank. Decorate, cut a slit in the top, and voila a fun way to save money.
• Pet food storage. Great for traveling with pet, and you can also use them as a water bowl on the go. I also use a large container for storing pet food in my 72-hour kit.
• Seed starters. These little containers are great for starting some seeds, just be sure to drill some holes in the bottom first.
• Paint them and use them as gift baskets for various holidays. Great for giving to your kids friends with candy inside or some other yummy treat.
• Use them in bathroom drawers to keep like things together and clean (like cotton balls).
• Create a travel sewing, first aid, or other kit in them. They can fit easily in glove boxes, diaper bags, or under a seat.
• Turn them into scoops. You can use them in the big bag of cat food or they can be lots of fun in a kiddy pool or sandbox (or even the beach, they'd be great for castles!)
• Donate them. Lot's of schools, day cares, churches, etc. use them for arts and crafts projects.
• Recycle them. Not all cities do, but a lot do recycle them.

That's just some of the many uses for them! If you have an idea for a use, please share below, and I will add it to the list.

And a word of warning, which you can follow or not, the type of plastic that these containers are made out is not meant to be heated, in fact microwaving them can leach chemicals from the plastic into the food. So while it may seem like a good idea to make them into your personal tupperware collection, it's really not that wise of an idea. Besides you can get plastic containers fairly cheap, and it's sooo much easier when you can see your leftovers in your container. ;-)