Now, here’s where the fun starts, especially if you’re crafty or a good DIY-er. Upcycling is the process of taking unwanted goods or products and transforming them into something that’s once again usable. It’s about giving what could be a waste product a new lease of life – either for your own use or to sell. And the good thing is there are no rules – there’s nothing that can’t be upcycled. That set of drawers you think look old fashioned and are ready to be thrown out; the old pair of curtains that have been gathering dust in the loft; shoes that have been sitting in the wardrobe because they’re no longer in fashion.
There are so many ways to take everyday household items and transform them into something that can once again take pride of place in your living room or kitchen. Is there anything more satisfying than getting a new use out of something that was destined for the rubbish bin? Why not give it a go – there are bound to be items in your house that with a bit of love, could once again find a purpose.
We are actively promoting the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ message as part of our commitment to reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.
So many of the products we throw away have not reached the end of their life yet, so why not think about how they could be used. Could they be donated to charities in your local community, for people or animals in need, or could they even be sold at a car boot sale to generate some extra income – remember one man’s waste is another man’s treasure! Here are a few ideas of how you could reuse items that night otherwise go in the bin:
- handbags – Donate to charity or sell to friends and family
- batteries – supermarkets often offer battery recycling
- bedding – take to your local animal rescue shelter
- biscuit tins – reuse for storage
- books – donate to charity
- bubble wrap – keep and reuse to protect goods or for if you move to a new house
If you consciously think about everything you’d throw away, you could find that many of these things can be reused, either by you or by someone in need. To find out more information around recycling on our reduce, reuse and recycle pages.
