Transform your trash into treasure!

Today is National Re Cycling Day - 14th September 2012, I didn't want to bore you with what we already know but had a look at some ideas and "Up Cycle".

 

Transforming your trash into treasure is basically the process of  Up cycling! What a wonderful thought that is :) because we sure have enough of that lying around! Even retailers are catching onto this transforming all sorts in to beautiful pieces of decor, furniture and functional items.  By using throw-aways and upcycle it into something new and functional, the impact on the environment is very low and this is the ultimate we are all trying to achieve in some way!
My mother in law has always had a gift for doing just that, she makes ugly things look great by restoring and revamping! So it's not a new idea but definetly coming back into the "cool" factor for us all. It may not be treasure but at least find a new use for it before it finally heads to the dump.

I went looking for some ideas and here is what I came up with... you should never have to throw away these items!!

Plastic Milk bottles  - cut in half & use for storing stationery or odds and ends. Or make holes in the plastic lid tops, to make your very own homemade watering can, for keeping pot plants moist. I even found twirlly earings made out of the plastic from a milk bottle!
Glass Jars - Vases, store anything and everything. Seeds, Rice, Sauces ...endless uses!
Wine Bottle - Vases, candle holders, bubble bath foam etc
Wine Glasses - got some odd wine glasses over the years, turn upside down and put a candle on top!, looks great on a dinning table!
Toilet roll tubes - use to keep cords untangle or store. Decorate and use as serviette holders.
Bottle Tops - great to repaint and decorate will keep the young ones busy. Even great for making pieces for jewellery and even fridge magnets.
Odd Pillow cases - sew together with pillow inserted, makes a great "make shift" portable sleeping mattress for kids!
Wine corks - Cut slit across horizontally and use as business card holder or name tags for tables or save up many corks and thread together for a bath mat. You will need to consume quite a lot of wine for this one :)

 "Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to provide new products." So get creative, have fun... all at a low impact on our dear mother earth!

Alternatively if you not the creative type, support other organisation who are trying to make a sustainable living out of "up cycling "someone elses trash.

I came across  www.upcycle.co.za  or sponser a "green" project! Please feel free to share your comments, details of any community projects that you  may know of ,who sells" up cycled" goods and needs support. Lets all help!