Coffee cans have greatly evolved over the years. They used to be made of metal. They had sharp edges and plastic lids, but these days they are completely made of recyclable plastic, and some even have handles. They seem too good to throw away or even toss into the recycling bin. The high price of coffee is partially due to these handy plastic containers, but they are often as good as or better than empty plastic containers sold in stores. Here you will find a number of practical ways to recycle plastic coffee containers.
How to Remove the Scent of Coffee
When planning to recycle plastic coffee containers for food storage, most people want to get rid of the smell of the coffee first. Wash the canisters and lids with hot soapy water. Next, liberally add white vinegar to the canisters (the more the better), and fill them the rest of the way with cool water. Allow the white vinegar to work overnight to get rid of the smell of coffee. If necessary, repeat this process until the smell is completely gone. For best results, allow the clean dry plastic coffee containers to air out before sealing the lids.
Crayons rarely end up back in the box since they often get mixed up with other crayons, and sometimes they mysteriously no longer fit in the box they came in. Instead of struggling with boxes and broken crayons, recycle plastic coffee containers for stray crayons. They are stackable, and the crayons can be sorted according to glitter varieties, scented types, and more.
Use Plastic Coffee Cans for Travel-Size Pet Food Containers
When taking trips with Fido or Fluffy, instead of using the bags or boxes to hold their food, keep it fresh and well-contained in plastic coffee containers. Bags and boxes do not reseal well and end up creating a mess while traveling. The food will stay fresh, and the containers can be used as makeshift bowls if necessary.
Recycle Plastic Coffee Containers for Food Storage
Recycle plastic containers for food storage purposes. Use plastic coffee containers to store everything from homemade cookies to rice. Since the containers are not clear, label them to make it easy to find exactly what you want at a glance.
Salt for melting ice typically comes in large bags, and it is cheap, but it is not safe for use on concrete. It will create permanent pock marks as it eats through the surface, and it can kill nearby foliage and ruin interior floors when tracked indoors. Use calcium magnesium acetate pellets instead, and apply it with plastic coffee containers that have handles. Make sure the containers are completely dry, and drill holes of the appropriate size in the lid. Use the canisters like salt shakers to apply the CMA, and be sure to label the containers accordingly before storage.
Recycle the Containers for Handy Yarn Storage
Balls of yarn somehow become tangled while knitting and crocheting, and fighting with yarn is a losing battle. Recycle plastic coffee canisters by turning them into handy yarn dispensers. Simply place a ball of yarn in a container, and drill a small hole in the center of the lid. Pull the yarn through the hole and it should remain tangle-free inside the container.
A mixer is not necessary when making instant pudding or pie filling. Recycle plastic coffee canisters by using them for instant pudding mixers. Simply add the ingredients to the clean containers, snap on the lids, and shake them until the pudding thickens. It can be stored and served in the canisters.
Special spreaders are available for applying grass seed, but they are not entirely necessary. For small bare spaces, punch or drill holes in the lids of plastic coffee containers with handles, and use them to sprinkle grass seed evenly where it is needed. The extra seed can also be stored in the plastic coffee containers.
Instead of storing pet food in the original bags, store it in large plastic containers with lids for ease of access and freshness. Recycle plastic coffee containers with handles to use handy scoops for serving the pet food. This is a great way to recycle the canisters, and they help save money by alleviating the need to buy pet food scoops.
