Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The flood crisis left many households in the county with dozens, even hundreds, of empty water bottles.

Empty bottles piled by a Churchdown bottle bank

Some of the 45 extra recycling sites for plastic bottles in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Stroud, will start disappearing this week.

So far, 50 tonnes of plastic bottles have been collected at the extra sites, but how have the council's coped?

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Gloucestershire's Chris Brierley met up with Carlos Novoth from Stroud District Council.

What happens to all the bottles being recycled? Eric Gent is from Recresco, the company which has supplied all the extra skips and is taking the bottles away.

All dressed up: Stella Buckley's Santa

So what's the best way to compact a potentially stubborn water bottle? Here are a few suggestions from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Gloucestershire listeners:

• Cut them with a bread knife then stuff the top bit into the bottom half. (Francis in the Forest)
• Heat the bottle with a hairdryer and then use your foot. (John from Cheltenham)
• Remove top, squeeze out the air and then replace. (John the White Van Man)
• Pierce the bottle with a knife. (Jean from Hucclecote)

To find the location of temporary and regular plastic recycling banks, check out www.recycleforgloucestershire.com.

Water Bottle Festival

But could we use the bottles in a more creative way?Μύ Stella Buckley thinks so.

She sent us this picture and said: "Having listened to your programme regarding things to make from plastic water bottles IΜύdecided to make a Santa.Μύ I used to make these years ago but with empty lemonade bottles and sold them in aid of Multiple Sclerosis."

Might a new charity fundraising revenue-stream be on the way?
The idea of a 'Water Bottle Festival' found favour with some Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Gloucestershire listeners. "How about also having a stall for garden ornaments made from water bottles?" said Gemma from Cheltenham.Μύ

"With weather resistant labels on all (the ornaments) saying 'Gloucestershire Floods of July 2007', that way I think more people would buy them.

"It would be a timely reminder of all of the great camaraderie and devastation, which I think we must remember. Also, would be a reminder of the importance of our water supply."

Do you think a 'Water Bottle Festival' is a good idea? Perhaps you can suggest fun or effective ideas for the re-use of empty bottles? Send us your comments using the form below - the best will be featured on this website.