Pesos for Pigs: A Recycled Piggy Bank Project For Youth

These colorful piggy banks were created from 1.5 Liter Coke bottles!

Children from the coastal communities had a blast making these piggy banks

Hello and greetings from the Philippines! For this BLOG I want to share with all of my teacher friends and Environmental Educators in the United States one way Filipinos are recycling here: by making piggy banks out of 1.5 Liter soda bottles! This piggy bank project has been enormous fun for all ages – and I believe children in the US would enjoy this activity. It is also cheap and quick to do – great for a rainy day! Allow your students about 1 hour to complete the project. I usually have my students  make these piggy banks after a Solid Waste Management lecture, as a hands-on activity that promotes the 3R’s (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle). If anyone attempts this activity in the United States (or elsewhere in the world), please let us all know how it goes!

This activity was a hands-on component for our Solid Waste Management (SWM) lecture for children

You will need the following materials:

1.5 Liter plastic bottle with cap

4 additional soda caps for the feet

Crazy Glue (also called “Shoe Glue” in the Philippines)

Hot Glue Gun (Optional)

Soldering Gun

Moving Eyes (also called “Googly Eyes” in the United States)

Spray Paint

Scissors and box cutter

Twist ties

Yarn

*Peace Corps Volunteers - you can acquire 1.5 Liter bottles (and extra soda caps) from local Junk Shops for about a peso each

Bottles can be cut down to the desired size using scissors or box cutters

Step One: Use the box cutters and cut the end off of your 1.5 L coke bottle and put it aside for the moment. Next, trim off about 3 to 4 inches from the main part of the bottle for a smaller sized pig.

Step Two: Cut two ears to the shape of your desire from some of that plastic bottle you just trimmed away.

Step Three: Use the box cutter and make two slices where the ears will go. Insert the ear pieces into the slits. Use the Shoe Glue (Crazy Glue) to secure them in place.

Step Four: If you have a soldering gun, heat it up and burn four holes into the belly region of the plastic bottle.

Step Five: Burn two holes into each of the 4 caps, which will serve as feet. Next, use the twist ties and secure them to the plastic bottle.

Step Six: Place the bottom end onto the other half of the bottle. Connect the two, and use Shoe Glue to permanently attach them.

Step Seven: You can use the soldering gun to burn a slit for coins in the top of the piggy bank. A box cutter will work also.

Step Eight: Take the yarn and tie it around the “nose” of the pig and fasten the end to some place out in the open where you can spray paint the bottle. Paint your pig the color of your choice! Spray paint seems to dry extra-fast in the Philippines, so be ready to move on fairly soon after.

Bottles can be painted a variety of colors using spray paint!

Step Nine: Once your pig is dry it’s time to decorate it! You can use either a hot glue gun, or Shoe Glue to secure your eyes in place. Get creative! Add a ribbon or a feather to make her a little more festive. A black permanent marker is great for adding eye-lashes. Little straw hats make the pigs EXTRA happy. Have fun! And be sure to add a peso or a quarter into the belly for good luck and forever-wealth.

This is my God Child who had fun playing with all the piggy banks

The future Miss Universe! She had a blast with the ribbons and feathers

My God Child found another piggy bank to play with