Many products come in clear plastic packaging called plastic clamshells, such as berry baskets. Sometimes this packaging is “thermoformed,” meaning it is molded around the shape of a product. Sellers might like this packaging because it is inexpensive, protects the items in transport and lets them attach their branding. But customers find it annoying to open and difficult to recycle. Many people do “wishcycling,” meaning that they put this packaging in their recycling bin, hoping it will be recycled. Unfortunately, most recycling programs are not set up to recycle this packaging. It gums up the sorting machines and contributes to higher costs of recycling.
In this podcast episode, we’ll discuss ways you can creatively reuse this packaging. In the featured photo on this blog, you can see an octopus I designed for my nephew – it was a squid actually. It involved stringing plastic caps on string. I gave it to him disassembled so he could build it himself. I put all the parts in a clamshell container and made my own label. This type of packaging can be great for gifts and many other reuse opportunities.
What is Wishcycling?
Wishcycling is when people put items in their recycling bin that they are not sure are accepted by their local recycling program, but they hope it will be recycled anyway. The worst types of recycling contamination are those which fall through the recycling sorting machinery and cause it to break such as plastic bags, hoses, tarps, chains and wires. There is also a problem with small metal items like nuts, bolts and batteries. You have heard the story about throwing a wrench in the machinery, right? I have heard that batteries thrown in recycling causes fires in recycling trucks. As a general rule, most recycling facilities cannot deal with anything smaller than your fist.
Craft Ideas with Plastic Clamshell Packaging
Trashmagination Pinterest board of plastic clamshell packaging ideas
Shark TrashAnatomy – anatomy model from recycled materials by Trashmagination
Check out my TrashAnatomy shark – a shark anatomy model made from recycled materials – which includes plastic clamshell packaging in the fin and tail.
Ribbon and yarn storage in a berry basket
Fish craft from and bubble wrap and clamshell packaging
Earring shapes from recycled plastic
Square panel bracelet from clamshell packaging
Pirate treasure chest from plastic berry basket
“May Day” basket from plastic berry basket
Gift box from plastic berry basket
Teacher gift from plastic berry basket
“Shrinky Dinks” or Baked Plastic Art
Show Details
Script for this podcast episode about ways to creatively reuse plastic clamshell packaging or berry baskets (not a transcript but gives the main ideas)
The Trashmagination podcast theme music is Kitchen from the Marian Circle Drum Brigade.
