FAQ: What Do I Do With Glass Bottles After I Finish The Product?

A couple of weeks ago, a customer asked a great question. I thought that you might have the same question, so I thought I’d share it with you. The question was: Do you have a take-back program or a way for customers to return glass bottles to you for recycling or reuse?  

Recycling is a passion of mine. But I regret that the cost of shipping glass bottles back to me, in terms of pollution and the environment, is not offset by the benefit of recycling them. However, there are many alternatives to throwing them away.

You’ve heard “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, but did you know it is listed in that order for a reason? It is more desirable to reduce our consumption and the amount of waste we produce. For example, can you purchase goods that have less packaging? You can reduce single-use items and replace them with reusable ones. For example, grocery bags, water bottles, coffee cups, etc.

Second, reuse means to use an item more than once. For example, old clothes can become rags, gently used items in good condition can be donated. Buying items second hand and giving them a new life is a good way to reuse.

Recycle. If all else fails, recycle. Recycling is actually the least desirable way to manage waste; because of the amount of energy it takes to recycle materials it is the least environmentally friendly. Check to see if your waste provider offers recycling services.

Here are my top ways to reuse your glass bottles. First, be sure to clean your glass bottles by rinsing them out with water and then with alcohol, spray it a few times to get the solution through the sprayer tip, then let it air dry. 

1. Refill them. If you use hydrosols, I offer ½ gallon size refills to refill your atomizer bottles multiple times
2. Use the spritzers for homemade cleaning solutions like vinegar + water for mirrors and windows or homemade cleaners like Castile soap and water
3. Fill with leather or vinyl cleaner and keep in the car for quick touch ups
4. They make great little misters for your indoor house plants; they’re also a great way to water succulents, or watering seedlings in spring
5. Create a travel kit. Fill small bottles with toiletries, and products for traveling, the gym or to use on-the-go
6. You can fill it with stain remover to use on your laundry
7. Fill glass sprayers with water to mist on clothes when ironing
8. Used them to tame frizzy or fly-a-way hair, or for hair styling
9. Fill with water and spritz your face during hot weather
10. Make them into mini flower vases. Use a single bottle in a small space, or tie several together to make a centerpiece with them

I hope this gives you some ideas! If you have your own ideas, drop a comment below, I'd love to hear how you are reusing your glass bottles. 

To a healthy Earth,