Uses for plastic tubs/boxes?

elljay · Post by **elljay** » 12 Mar 2009, 13:36

Not sure whether this is frugal or eco, but I am drowning under a sea of plastic tubs! I use anything with a lid like butter tubs for single portions of whatever I want to freeze, then big ones without lids are used for hen food or water, I put cosmetics etc into others in my drawers, I have enough seed trays to see me through the next 10 years, lunches at work fill a few more, and a million other things - however pretty much all of them get washed and reused so the pile never really goes down - so what else can I use them for? I don't have a lot of storage space but a whole kitchen cupboard is full of the things.

I wonder if I can make anything useful with them? Ilona where are you?

Thanks

Liz

Orfy · Post by **Orfy** » 12 Mar 2009, 14:34

I use alot on the allotment and and in the kitchen.

I try not to buy processed foods so do not have many.
I find I need to buy containers rather than dispose of them.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » 12 Mar 2009, 17:14

My dad uses marge tubs to sort his screws into.

Easy to put in his tool box and if one breaks there will be another one along soon enough to replace it!

Stig · Post by **Stig** » 12 Mar 2009, 17:57

Floella Benjamin and Derek Griffiths used to make a lot of shakers. Just add some dried peas for a fun musical time!

Also seen on Rainbow - Zippy was a bit of a virtuoso on the shaker - & as used on the latest U2 album (made that last bit up, admittedly, but it could be true)

piglets_girl · Post by **piglets_girl** » 12 Mar 2009, 18:17

Hi Elljay,

Like you I'm surrounded by plastic boxes, all shapes and sizes. I haven't been able to make anything new and exciting out of them but as you say they have endless uses as they are.

The see through ones with lids are great for craft and sewing stuff. I have different boxes for ink pads, buttons, yarn, thread, stencils, stamps, punchies, shiny bits, beads etc and they all stack on top of each other. When knitting I have a container with a hole in the top, the yarn's in the box and unwinds as I knit - saves the wool rolling all over the floor!!

I keep different types of string and garden twine in the same way, ready for use but neat and tidy in the shed. The containers are also good for storing seeds, pond treatments and other garden bits. I start off my seeds in these boxes too, I pierce the lids with holes. The lid keeps the moisture in and safe until the seedlings come up.

Hi Orfy,
I get my containers from the local corner shop - they're the tubes and boxes that the penny sweets come in. Our shop gives them away for free and has a constant supply, complete with lids.

p-g

elljay · Post by **elljay** » 12 Mar 2009, 18:21

Oh dear, I don't do crafts. Perhaps I'd better start! Thanks for the ideas everyone.

We have a local cafe that gives away fab plastic tubs for a donation to charity. I'm often so tempted to get some. Perhaps it's the addiction I need to deal with! They just all look so useful.

Liz

Orfy · Post by **Orfy** » 12 Mar 2009, 18:54

piglets_girl wrote:I get my containers from the local corner shop - they're the tubes and boxes that the penny sweets come in. Our shop gives them away for free and has a constant supply, complete with lids.
p-g

Sounds good.
I bought 100 chinese take-away tubs for around £6 and split them with a friend. After a few years of use I'm down to about 30

teetee · Post by **teetee** » 22 Mar 2009, 18:37

marg tubs (rectangle) can be cut into strips, sides, lid and bottom to be used as plant/seed lables. )t'