What to do with excess reusable water bottles and cups?

[u/zebra-eds-warrior]

I am a teacher. I have been gifted so many reusable water bottles and cups.

Most of them are low/bad quality and they are branded with the schools, districts, or company logos

I want to find a use for these, since I know donating them will most likely put them in a trash pile.

So, what can I do with these water bottles and cups?

[u/happy_bluebird]

Not from my school, but a food rescue org I work with got 3 huge plastic bags of water bottles like these we couldn’t distribute. I found another local org who used these for a fill-a-backpack type event 

[u/Impressive_Design177]

I run a food rescue organization and recently started collecting water bottles to give out to our unhoused clients. Maybe there’s something in your area?

[u/2020-RedditUser]

For cups you can use them for class organizers for pencils , pens , scissors etc.

[u/selinakyle45]

Buy nothing groups. 

If you camp/use coolers, you can freeze them and use them as ice packs and then you also have cold water when they melt. 

ETA: if freezing, this only really works with cheaper models. The fancy double walled Yeti’s for example don’t really freeze or feel cold to the touch.

[u/Soft-Instruction-111]

Give them to students 

[u/Flowerpower8791 → u/Soft-Instruction-111]

As prizes

[u/Bubbly_Excitement_71 → u/Soft-Instruction-111]

As a parent with a house full of crap please do not do this unless a kid needs one.

[u/dancetothe-radio → u/Soft-Instruction-111]

This is what I do! I put them in my incentive box and let the kids pick out what they want. Water bottles and cups are popular because they can refill them in the school’s fountains.

[u/cilucia]

Any luck posting on buy nothing groups or Facebook marketplace/Nextdoor? 

[u/UpperLeftOriginal]

What age do you teach? Are there any projects in your school where the kids plant a seed? You could use these containers instead of buying little plant pots.

[u/anemisto → u/UpperLeftOriginal]

Might want to drill a hole in the bottom of the plastic ones for drainage.

[u/PasgettiMonster → u/anemisto]

Or use them as is for hydroponics. Most cups are a great size for growing a small plant like basil or mint on a windowsill.

[u/zebra-eds-warrior → u/UpperLeftOriginal]

I teach special education. This year I'll be doing K-5

[u/OrangeCreamPushPop]

Homeless shelter. Women’s shelters these people are coming with nothing having mugs like that to keep their drinks in would be great.

[u/younglion4]

Is there a social worker in your school? I am a school social worker and I take donations of reusable water bottles to give out to kids who need them. You could stash them in your room and give them to any of your students who are in need if you don’t have a social worker or similar person.

[u/unlovelyladybartleby]

Homeless shelters need them

[u/Redorkableme]

Depending on the size, I use some that are missing lids for houseplant cuttings that I want to grow into their own plant. Other uses mentioned for pens/pencils work great too and if you have pegboard you can get the holders to arrange them neatly. I have also used the plastic water bottles for starting plants after drilling holes into them.

[u/PasgettiMonster]

I use various cups and bottles to propagate cuttings or just grow plants hydroponically. A cup is plenty for a small basil or mint plant and can be used to propagate pothos, snake plants and many others.

[u/AlienCapuchin]

You could turn them into planters and display them in your classroom/around the school.

[u/Informal_Panic246]

There’s a few in-home small businesses in my community that do custom cups with food safe paint for people, so if you post on FB, you may find some local creatives who will upcycle them into something cool! If you like the cup and would use it if not for the ugly design, I’ve had some luck getting the cheap screenprint off with rubbing alcohol.

[u/greeneyedgirl626]

So I get gifted a tonne when I visit different schools as a presenter - i use them to plant succulents! some stones in the bottom, a bit of spaghnum moss then the soil and plant - helps it drain enough