Clorox Wipe Bottle to Store Batteries to Be Recycled

I had so much fun last month repurposing a wipes container to hold trash bags that I had to find another reason to decorate a new container.   I held onto another empty wipes container for weeks waiting for inspiration.

And here it is.

In the past year, I've become aware of the large number of batteries my family has been going through. I've been trying to figure out the best way to collect and store the used batteries around the house. The empty wipe container sitting on my counter volunteered for the job.

In our county Household Hazardous Waste (WWH) is collected 6-8 times a year. And of those times only once is the collection conveniently located near to us. That means that I need to collect and store any items that I want to dispose of at the next collection event, items like batteries.  I need a container large enough to store 6-12 months worth of batteries. 

If you use rechargeable batteries, most Best Buys stores will take them for recycling.  In our store, there's a bin right inside the front door.  They take a lot of other items, too, so you should check out your nearest store.  Since I can drop them off anytime,  I won't have to store them as long.  But lets be realistic, I'm not going to run out to Best Buy to recycle 2 or 3 batteries (burning gas every time to recycle batteries seems counterproductive).  I want to collect a bunch of batteries before I make the trip to recycle them.  So either regular or rechargeable batteries, I need a container large enough to hold a bunch.

But back to my wipes container.

I grabbed decorative paper left over from card making last year that coordinated with the yellow lid of the container (plus it's a chevron design!). I attached the paper with Mod Podge, using rubber bands to hold it in place until it was completely dry.  I added a label so the whole family knows where to deposit used batteries in our home (no need to ask Mommy on this one).









The container is now kept right next to the bucket of new batteries.  That proximity should remind everyone in my family to recycle the old batteries.  Trying to make success as easy and likely as possible.

In less than 2 1/2 hours (and that's with 2 hours of drying time) I have a an easy and pretty way to store those used batteries until the next collection event comes along.

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