Glass bottles and jars can be recycled in your yellow bin but they can also be given a new purpose! Here are some inspiring ways to dust off those lids and start re using these glass containers…

Glass has an unlimited life and can be melted and reused endlessly. Instead of just sending your empty bottles and jars off to be recycled, try repurposing them in the comfort of your own home. Keep reading to learn how to reuse glass bottles and jars of all shapes and sizes in resourceful, fun ways.

• Fill your glass jar with some fresh water and fill it with fresh flowers from your garden to create a lovely, free vase.
• Make a batch of jam, marmalade, lemon curd or chutney and gift it in your jar. Jazz the jar up with a label and some string.
• Create a cute terrarium for a friend. Fill an empty glass jar with a 2-inch layer of pebbles, enough activated charcoal to cover them and some potting soil. And voila! Your own DIY terrarium is ready to be filled with miniature succulents or cacti to bring a little bit of nature into your home.
• Make a ‘happiness jar’. Start one today! Fill your jar full of happy memories, tickets, and little notes from throughout the year, then open it to remember all the great things that have happened.
• Simply use a saved one from a plastic container – and you can create a unique soap dispenser using any type of bottle the pump will fit.
• With an empty wine bottle, some wood, a few screws and a piece of wire rope, anyone with a little DIY know-how can construct this bird feeder. The seeds will filter out bit by bit and once the bottle is empty, simply loosen the rope to pull it out for a refill.
• Head to your local hardware store for a glass/tile drill bit and a lamp holder, purchase a lampshade and you’ll be ready to light up your home the DIY way. This project is best suited for those with some past DIY experience and the toolkit to match.
• Do you love using fresh herbs in the kitchen, but don’t have the space or skills to grow your own in a backyard garden? One way to reuse glass bottles is to turn them into planters that water themselves. Cut your bottles in half using one of these methods. Then, all you need is a small piece of screen and a thick string to start an effortless window sill herb garden.
• A few glass jars can be used to wrangle your loose paperclips, pens and other office items. They’re also useful for a work bench, junk drawer or any other area cluttered with small objects.
• A few glass jars make for a stylish and inexpensive way to keep your bathroom vanity organised. Use them to store your makeup brushes, cotton balls and hair accessories. Smaller jars can even be used inside your medicine cabinet or vanity drawers.
• Have some smaller glass jars you need to repurpose? Fill them with votive candles and use them to create a cozy atmosphere in any room. You can leave the jars clear or add metallic paint for a little extra glow.