How to Recycle and Reuse Gatorade Bottles

Gatorade bottles are made from PET #1 polyethylene terephthalate plastic, which is a stronger, more durable plastic. The quality of the plastic lends Gatorade bottles to be reused for other projects. Reusing the Gatorade bottles is a responsible form of recycling. Both adults and children can participate in finding new uses for their Gatorade bottles.

You will need the following items:

Dish soap
Water
Tissue paper
Scissors
Glue
Flowers
Sand
Straws
Tape

Follow these steps to reuse your Gatorade bottles:

Gatorade Flower Vase
Step 1:
Remove the Gatorade product label and thoroughly clean the Gatorade bottle with dish soap and water. Wait for your Gatorade bottle to air dry before continuing.

Step 2:
Cut a bunch of squares or odd shapes out of colored tissue paper. Glue them to the Gatorade bottle to create a design. Overlap the squares so that you do not see any part of the Gatorade bottle. You can use one color throughout or mix the colors up. Wait for the tissue paper to dry before continuing.

Step 3:
Fill the Gatorade bottle half way with room temperature water.

Step 4:
Cut fresh flowers from your outside flower garden, and set them in your Gatorade bottle. Display on a dining room table or fireplace mantle.

Gatorade Horseshoe Game

Step 1:
Clean two Gatorade bottles with soapy dish water and remove their product labels.

Step 2:
Fill the Gatorade bottles with sand once they are dry. This will keep the Gatorade bottles upright.

Step 3:
Position three straws so that they form the letter U. Tape the edges where the straws meet so that the U shape is retained. This is your horseshoe. Make three horseshoes for each player.

Step 4:
Set the Gatorade bottles 10 to 12 feet apart depending on the age of the children. Instruct the children to take turns tossing their horseshoes at the Gatorade bottle.

Step 5:
Award three points each time a child gets the horseshoe around the Gatorade bottle. Award one point if the horseshoe touches the Gatorade bottle. The child with the most points at the end wins.

Tips:
Add plant food to the water in the Gatorade bottle to keep the fresh flowers alive longer.

You my want to use blue electrical tape for three of the horseshoes, and black electrical tape for three horseshoes. This way the children can tell which set of horseshoes is theirs.

References:
Joey Green's Wacky Uses for Gatorade
Creative Kids at Home: Children's Horseshoe Game
Ward Mulroy: Gatorade FAQ's