How are plastic products created, and where do they end up when we throw them away? Rescue a plastic item from ending up in a landfill or the ocean by reinventing it into something new!
maker playground
repurpose, reimagine, remake! | all ages
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Did you know that plastic products can take up to 1,000 years to decompose?! Plastic trash is a major source of pollution on Earth, causing harm to people, animals, and plants.
Watch the embedded video to see the journey of a plastic bottle to discover what really happens when you throw away a piece of plastic.
It’s so important to the health of our planet that we reduce the amount of plastic we use, reuse as many of those products as possible, and when we do throw away plastic, recycle whenever we can.
But only certain kinds of plastic can be recycled, and what you can and can’t recycle depends on where you live. There’s a special code on each plastic item to tell you what kind of plastic it’s made out of and whether it can be recycled. Check out this article to learn all about the plastic recycling codes and what they mean.
Then, try searching for your town, city, or county’s recycling webpage so you can learn how plastic recycling works where you live.
imagine
Rescue something plastic from your trash or recycling bin (don’t forget to clean it first!) and use your maker skills to turn it into something useful.
- What is the purpose of your item — how can you repurpose it to do something new?
- How can you reimagine the shape, size, and look of your item?
- What maker tools and materials can you use with your plastic item to remake something new?
For inspiration , check out Liter of Light, a global organization that helps people around the world by teaching them to use plastic bottles to create inexpensive light sources in their homes and communities.
create
Not sure where to get started? Plastic items make great containers! You could try turning your plastic item into a cute piggy bank, an herb planter, or a storage container for your desk! Check out even more ideas here.
In addition to your plastic item(s), you might find some of these tools and materials helpful:
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- String
- Tape
- Fabric
- Paint
- Decorative materials
If you’re going to change the shape of your plastic item by cutting it, check with a grown up first to make sure you’re doing it safely.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with! Make sure you share your amazing creation by emailing a picture, along with your name, age, and a description of your work to socialmedia@kid-museum.org.
