Sometimes there's just no way around it: You need to buy plastic. The pang of guilt that comes with purchasing plastic bottles can be offset by reusing them for something useful afterwards. What ...

With a few simple modifications, an empty laundry detergent bottle can become a gardener's best friend thanks to its dimensions and handy storage capacity.

container garden, various size plastic pots - Jordan Lye/Getty Images It starts with good intentions and a yogurt tub--or maybe a takeout container. Either way, it's a perfectly decent vessel. So, why ...