You have all heard of recycling. But have you ever

heard of precycling, downcycling or

upcycling?

Recycling-converts waste products into re-useable materials.

Precycling is the practice of reducing waste by attempting to avoid bringing items which will generate waste into home or business. For example, you could re-use a water bottle, or avoid using products that are heavy in packaging.

Downcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of lesser quality and reduced functionality. A clear of example of downcycling is plastic recycling, which turns the material into lower grade plastics. In effect, you are reducing the value of the materials.

Thinking about what you have learnt about Downcycling, what do you

think Upcycling is?

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.Upcycling takes an item and changes its use.

On the next set of slides are examples of upcycling, can

you explain what they are and how their use has changed?

This necklace is made out of a fork. The forks use

has changed from an eating

utensil to a piece of fashion.

These bowls are made out

of old magazines.

The magazines

use has changed from

a piece of entertainment to a piece of

crockery.

This chair is made out of ring pulls. The ring pulls use

has changed

from opening a fizzy drink to a piece

of furniture.

This pencil holder is

made out of an old cheese

grater. The graters use has changed

from a kitchen utensil to a stationery

holder.

This is life size sculpture of a man and it was made with chewing

gum. The chewing gum has gone from being something that is just a

mess into an amazing piece of artwork!

Other examples

You will have a sheet like this one to take home which explains exactly what your homework project is, as well as when each piece of homework is due in.

Your project homework this term will be focused around the idea of Upcycling. You all be given a DVD case. Your homework this week is to upcycle it, making it something of more value, as well as changing its use. You will also need to write an explanation about what you have upcycled the case into .

The homework is due next Monday 16th June.

Good luck!

Ideas