Against the backdrop of an economic downturn that forced the tightening of purses, a new trend has proven to be both practical and aesthetically appealing.
This new trend, upcycling, involves creating something new from used or unwanted materials. Often confused with recycling – which implies that waste undergoes treatment before being used to manufacture other items – upcycling simply entails giving old objects a facelift.
This trend is not entirely new – centuries ago people would restyle objects to move with the times. But what is original about this movement is that even items and materials considered ugly or shabby are now being creatively restyled into useful objects.
One material which is proving to be very popular is the pallet. Traditionally used as a base for lifting large packs of material, usually with a crane or fork lift truck, these flat wooden structures are now being snapped up for household projects. Tables are a popular use but projects range from herb gardens to feature walls and pathways.
It’s not just pallets – tyres are being transformed into planters, empty jars into candleholders and CDs into Christmas decorations. The only limit is your imagination.
Apart from the endless opportunities for DIY lovers, what is most exciting about these projects is the environmental benefit – reusing materials which would otherwise go to waste saves precious space from landfills.
Reuse is in fact one of the tenets of sustainable management of waste, commonly known as the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. For Malta, recycling is something which over the past decade has enjoyed great success while the practice of reduce and reuse is still relatively lacking. Efforts are being made to change this, with a number of networks cropping up where people can sell, exchange or simply donate their unwanted items.
Among these is www.reuse.com.mt, a free advertising platform where all items are donated and the person claiming the free object is encouraged to make a small donation to charity.
What is really interesting is that many of the materials used for upcycling projects are not ones which are easy to recycle, particularly in Malta. Glass, for example, is so abundant in nature that the value of glass sold for recycling is very low. Pallets would be another one of these materials – since the wood is usually treated to prevent decay, it is another material which is not easily marketed for recycling and therefore would usually be disposed of in a landfill.
One great source of inspiration for upcycling and DIY projects is social media. Facebook has many pages linking to craft ideas while Pinterest has a whole section devoted to DIY and crafts.
You can’t refer to reuse and recycle without giving some attention to reduce, the first and foremost principle of waste management. While reusing materials does indeed reduce waste simultaneously, the principle of reduce is more concerned with mindfulness prior to consumption. For example, while shopping at the supermarket you should make sure to buy products with the least packaging and take your own reusable bag to transport it home. This is just one small example. Given some thought, there are many ways in which we can reduce the amount of waste we create on a daily basis, simply by taking some time to think about it.
Each year across Europe the European Week for Waste Reduction is held to remind people about this important concept. This year the week is being held from November 16-24. As the Maltese local organiser, WasteServ is holding a local competition with awards for schools, businesses, associations, public administrations and citizens in which cash prizes of up to €500 and sponsorships of up to €1,000 can be won for the actions voted the best in each category. Participating is free of charge and those interested must apply by October 30.
For more information contact WasteServ on Freephone 8007 2200, info.ws@wasteservmalta.com or www.facebook.com/WasteServ.
Upcycling tips
• Use pallets to create new items such as outdoor tables, pathways or feature walls – call WasteServ to enquire about collecting pallets for free
• Ask your friends and family to collect glass jars and paint them or decorate them with ribbons and lace to make pretty candle holders
• Restyle old clothing by adding modern accessories or use torn clothes to make baby T-shirts
• Use old sweatshirts to make pet beds
• Make beautiful patchwork bedspreads or quilt covers by stitching together old T-shirts
• Create unusual Christmas decorations by using old CDs or any other materials you have available
• Donate unwanted items instead of throwing these away using www.reuse.com.mt or other second-hand networks
For more inspiration, find pages on Facebook or visit the DIY and craftssection on Pinterest.