Recycling is a valuable, climate-smart practice for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Extending the life and usability of recycled materials, such as plastic, paper, metal, glass, and electronics, helps the environment by reducing waste headed for public landfills.

What is Upcycling?

Upcycling is a spin-off of recycling that involves eco-friendly ways to repurpose materials to create new, usable products. It eliminates the need to produce raw materials, offering everyone a chance to reduce their ecological footprint. In other words, it is great for the planet.

Numerous materials can be reused. For example, newspapers and magazines are perfect for arts and crafts with your children. Other objects, like glass and plastic containers, can be upcycled and used as organizers for household items or children’s toys.

Many online resources have information about upcycling. Popular web and social media sites, such as eBay and Etsy, offer the chance to purchase thousands of products that use recyclable materials. Beyond the bliss of constructively using discarded items around the house for upcycling, some crafters receive top prices for upcycled designs. Other entrepreneurial upcyclers use vintage items to refashion modern objects. Hence, upcycling also offers economic incentives.

Upcycling Tips

As with recycling, virtually any material can be upcycled and repurposed rather than discarded. As a part of your New Year’s resolution, take a different approach to discarding items in and around the home. Spend a few minutes thinking outside the box by imagining creative ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Encourage children and family members to do the same. Just remember, giving renewed purpose to an item deemed worthless doesn’t require unique skills or talents. You only need the desire to be creative and more eco-friendly.

Here are some ways to upcycle after the holidays.

• Save cardboard boxes to reuse as gift boxes.
• Save brown paper bags to reuse as gift wrap.
• Make holiday decorations for next year from your leftover trinkets.
• Give your tissue and wrapping paper a second life.
• Use old holiday cards to make gift tags for new presents.
• Reuse your holiday bags and bows.
• Donate old holiday cards to art programs for youth and seniors.
• Reuse your real Christmas tree to provide habitat for birds or mulch for plants during the winter.

More Information

Give Earth a helping hand and start upcycling today. For more information on recycling or other environmental topics, contact Extension Environmental Specialist Karnita Garner or visit Alabama Extension’s website at www.aces.edu.