Create a #2 Plastic Milk Container Birdhouse!

When refrigerated properly, milk has a shelf life of just a few weeks.  We quickly consume the servings in a bottle and it’s on to the next one.  It’s a different story for the durable #2 high-density polyethylene container that milk is stored in. 

Even if a plastic item is recycled, a lot of energy and resources are required to sort, sanitize, and break it down into a reusable form such as pellets.  Many of the plastic items that we put in our recycling bins are ultimately disposed of.  It can take up to 1,000 years for a #2 plastic item to fully decompose in a landfill.  When plastics break down in waterways and oceans, the ecosystem becomes polluted with microplastics that are harmful to wildlife and people. 
 
Instead of burdening recycling facilities or possibly adding waste to a landfill, tap into your creativity to upcycle #2 plastic.  Make a milk container mansion to welcome back your feathered friends this spring.  They’ll enjoy living in sustainable luxury.  Nest sold separately!
 
To create this project, you’ll need:

• An empty #2 plastic milk container
• All-purpose cleaner with bleach
• Goo Gone Adhesive Remover
• Sharpie permanent markers
• Sculpey Gloss Glaze for polymer clay
• A foam brush
• 18-gauge floral wire

 
1. Begin by sanitizing the empty milk container with a spray of all-purpose cleaner with bleach and hot water.  Peel the label off the container with Goo Gone Adhesive Remover.  Be sure to save the bottle’s cap so the resident bird family has a watertight roof! 

2. Make an entryway for the birds by poking a hole into one of the jug’s indentations.  Use a pair of scissors to cut out more plastic to form a door. 

3. Decorate the container with Sharpie permanent markers.  The quintessential bungalow homes of Milwaukee inspired me to design this project.  I’m fascinated by their charming stained-glass windows, built-in cabinets, gable roofs, and brick exteriors.  Let wherever you live inspire your design or choose your favorite places to visit!

4. After the marker has fully dried, paint the milk container with two coats of Sculpey Gloss Glaze for polymer clay to protect your design.  Follow the instructions on the glaze container. 

Your birdhouse is move-in ready!  Securely attach it somewhere outside by threading a piece of floral wire through the container’s handle.