wonderful waste: upcycling and the eco arts in the 21st century

7/21/2019 Wonderful Waste: Upcycling and the Eco Arts in the 21st Century

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This book is dedicated to Claudia, my wonderful wife and partner in

upcycling for introducing me to the art and continuing to inspire me

every day to create new things.

2015 Replantea Press. No copyright.



Introduction

Objectives

Materials & Environmental Impacts

Aluminum

Plastics

Paper

Glass

Hazardous Materials

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

What is Upcycling? Eco Arts?Tools Needed & Safety

Easy Upcycling Project Ideas

Bigger Ideas

Glossary

References



Introduction

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. What is waste, really? When we throw something away, where is away,

anyways?

There exists a problem we share as human beings on planet Earth: Too much pollution from disposable products.

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change. Generally, we

can think of two classes of materials on our planet- those which are organic and those which are inorganic. In nature,

organic materials degrade naturally over time with air, water, and sunlight. Inorganic materials are man-made by

synthesizing, concentrating, and processing natural materials, and will not degrade naturally over time under normal

conditions. All living beings, from the smallest microbes to the largest plants, animals and humans consume resources

and create wastes. In the natural “circle of life” there exists constant cycling and recycling of energy and nutrients from

the soil into more complex organisms and then back again into soil. Disposable products are designed for only a single

use, and generally will not degrade naturally. Therefore, consumption of disposable products always creates wastes,

which if not dealt with properly will become a waste problem.

This is a new problem to our planet as prior to the modern age all materials were unchanged from their natural form

and mostly biodegradable. Technological advances in the past 200 years have allowed for huge economic growth anddevelopment across the planet – we truly live in a mechanized world, and one result of this has been more disposable

products produced. The convenience of using metal, plastic, glass, and paper materials in practically all aspects of the

human life have led to their ubiquitous use today in the 21st century. More goods can be produced more quickly, more

cheaply, and distributed at a much greater scale than ever before. The use of locally available and biodegradable natura

materials (earth, stone, wood, etc…) for fuel, food, fiber, and construction prior to the modern age has generally been

replaced by synthetically produced, inorganic materials. Throughout the 20th century the solution has been to

concentrate these new solid wastes- in our homes and landfills. In the 21st century the cumulative effect of so much

accumulated waste is becoming more visible in our daily lives. Every major ocean now has at least one giant, floating

“garbage patch” of plastic debris which oceanic currents have carried from land. Another factor to this growing problem

is the steadily increasing human population on planet Earth- which is estimated at over 7 billion! All of us require water,

food, and shelter to survive. Our collective problem as human beings on planet Earth in this new century is of pollution

and overconsumption, where more natural resources are extracted from the Earth’s natural systems than are replaced

to maintain healthy ecological function.

Ecological footprint is a calculation of how many planets would be required to sustain humanity’s current rate of

resource consumption. Factors are consumption of energy, food, forests, and freshwater, among others. In 2007, it was

calculated that it will take one and a half planets to meet the current consumption needs of the planet as a whole. By

keeping in mind your ecological footprint while making decisions as a consumer you realize a very simple, yet powerful

action for creating a cleaner and healthier planet.

Objectives

Our intention with this practical guide is to examine our patterns of consumption of disposable products and their

impacts on the environment, and to offer simple examples of how to “upcycle” wastes into more valuable products.

What we want is to support healthy systems – in our relationships, in our homes, communities, and planet Earth as a

whole. While we protect the external environment we see outside we must not forget to also support the health of our

body and mind, our internal environment. We wish to re-examine the whole idea of what waste really is, and in the

process change our patterns of consumption to better reconnect with our natural world. We recognize that clean air



and water are absolutely essential to our collective health and wellbeing, and that these precious resources are

threatened. Therefore, the primary principles generating the creation of this guide are to support and restore healthy

ecological, economic, and social systems.

Materials and Environmental Impacts

In this section we explore various materials that are common in our daily lives as humans living in the 21st century. At

the industrial level, materials are processed into products, and products are what we deal with at the individual,

consumer level. After being used, these products can be recycled and reprocessed again to recover their materials, or

they may end up in a landfill. Materials we will explore are Aluminum, Plastics, Paper, Glass, and Hazardous Materials.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a very useful metal due to its lightweight, strength, and

recyclability. Beverage can production worldwide has been

estimated at over 450 billion, annually. Aluminum mining is very

toxic to the environment, often causing severe habitat loss. As a

material, aluminum is exceptional in its recyclability, as products can

easily be recycled post-consumer use. Cans made from recycled or

post-consumer materials require up to 95% less energy to produce

than one made from virgin aluminum. In the United States it is

estimated that about half of aluminum beverage cans are recycled,

leaving over 40 billion cans ($900 million worth!) in landfills every

year.

Plastics, Plastics, Everywhere…

Plastics are malleable materials made of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids. A relatively new phenomenon,industrial plastic production began in the 20th century. The low cost of manufacturing plastics, along with its adaptability

for packaging has led to the current state of its global ubiquity in the 21st century. Instead of breaking down over time

by natural biological forces, plastics photodegrade, with solar radiation slowly breaking the chemical bonds creating

smaller and smaller fragments of plastic. There are many different types of plastics, and rates of degradation vary, but

plastic bags may take from 20 - 1000 years to fully degrade. Plastic bag production worldwide has been estimated at

over 1 trillion, annually. (The average USA consumer uses more than 300

annually!) Plastics are recyclable, and many products can now be

recycled after consumption, creating post-consumer plastics.

Unfortunately, most plastics never arrive to be recycled, and currently it

is estimated that less than 1% of plastic bags are recycled worldwide.



Although plastic pollution on land is certainly more visible, the

accumulation of plastics in the world’s oceans is an ecological

threat much greater. The oceans act as giant recyclers for

planet Earth’s resources (>70% of the planet’s surface area is

covered by ocean!), and the phenomena of persistent plastics in

our ocean waters is an increasingly visible example of human

waste and environmental pollution. In the 21st century more

than 80% of pollution in the ocean is plastic (plastic bags,packaging, f ishing nets, plastic bottles, etc…). A recent study

estimated 260 million tons of plastic are currently floating in the

world’s oceans, made up of more than 5.35 trillion individual

pieces. The buoyancy and durability of plastics cause them to

become evenly distributed across every major ocean as they photodegrade into smaller particles. The same study found

small plankton sized plastics (<2.5 mm) to be ubiquitous in plankton samples in the eastern Pacific, even at times even

outnumbering plankton.

In 1988, a classification system was established by the plastics industry to make sorting and recycling of the different

classes of plastics easier. At their core, plastics are resins that consist of smaller compounds known as polymers. On

every piece of plastic in the products you consume today you should find the recycling symbol, a triangle made of

arrows, with a number 1-7 inside of it. It is often found on the underside of plastic products, and very small. The

following is a brief description of each class of plastic polymer, some examples of common products, its recyclability, and

safety for human use.

#1 Polyethylene terephthalate – PET/PETE

Products: Water and soft drink bottles, polyester fiber, cooking oil bottles, peanut

butter jars. Recyclable: Yes

PET bottles are clear and rigid, and used for storing beverages for their lightweight and strength. Recycled PETfibers are used to make tote bags, carpeting, and clothing, among other uses. PET is generally considered safe for

humans, but designed for a single use as bottles do not clean well. Therefore, the reuse of plastic bottles in this

category may increase exposure to leaching chemicals and harmful bacterial.

#2 High Density Polyethylene – HDPE

Products: Laundry detergent bottles, household cleaning product bottles, grocery bags,

milk and juice jugs, agricultural tubing, plastic lumber. Recyclable: Yes

A hard plastic used in a variety of consumer products, including the common plastic

grocery bag. HDPE is considered to be the safest of the industrial plastics. Recycled HDPE is used to make plastic

lumber, crates, and fencing, among other items.

#3 Polyvinyl Chloride – PVC

Products: Tubing, garden hose, fencing, food trays, non-food plastic wrap, packaging.

Recyclable: Yes



PVC is a versatile class of plastics, made into many rigid and flexible industrial products. PVC is a known

carcinogen due to the release of phthalates and other toxins which cause endocrine disruption and hormonal imbalance

and therefore should be avoided. Recycled PVC is used to make flooring and other industrial grade materials.

#4 Low Density Polyethylene – LDPE

Products: Plastic food wrap, squeezable bottles, bread and produce bags, 6-pack rings.

Recyclable: Yes

LDPE is not designed for reuse, but generally considered safe otherwise. Plastic

furniture and garbage cans are examples of products made with recycled LDPE.

#5 Polypropylene – PP

Products: Industrial fibers, auto parts, opaque food containers, potato chip bags,

dishware, drinking straws, bottle caps. Recyclable: Yes

PP is a durable plastic used in a variety of applications and generally considered safe for human

use. Recycled PP is used to make durable items such garden tools and battery cables, forexample.

#6 Polystyrene – PS

Products: Packaging foam, insulated cups, coffee lids, takeaway containers, plastic

utensils, Styrofoam™, building insulation. Recyclable: Yes

Polystyrene is a class of plastics which should be very familiar for their use in take away

food containers. While the rates of PS recycling are very low, recycled PS has been used to make

insulation and other items. PS is a likely human carcinogen and hormone disruptor, as it will

leach styrene when heated, and toxic when burned and therefore should be avoided.

#7 Other – Polycarbonate (PC)

Products: Baby bottles, reusable sports bottles, miscellaneous toys and housewares,

linings on metal cans. Recyclable: Variable

The #7 classification is used for plastics which are different than the previous six. Many

products contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been classified as a known carcinogen and

neurotoxin to the human body. BPA can leach into liquid when heated, and therefore should be

avoided. Plastics in this category have been recycled to make lumber, but currently has limitedrecycling potential.

#0 Bioplastics

A new designation has been given to plastics made from plant materials such as corn oil instead of

hydrocarbons/petroleum. Products with 0 are used to replace plastic cups with #1 designation, and will degrade more

quickly than the other industrial plastics. This class of plastics is generally considered safe to use and may be

compostable.



Many classes of known carcinogens are released into the environment in the manufacture of plastics. In addition, toxic

chemicals in plastics can also be transmitted directly to humans through close contact with our bodies, food, and water.

For example, phthalates are chemicals used in many plastics to make them flexible and have been associated with many

serious effects on human health such as male infertility, asthma, and cancer. The longer term health impacts related to

constant exposure to plastics, as well as the ecological impacts of plastics in terrestrial food chains are still largely

unknown.

PaperThe environmental impacts of paper production are also significant. Trees must be harvested from the forest and then

processed to create pulp from which paper products can then be made. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations estimated in 2005 that 13 million hectares of forest are cleared for human consumption annually, of

which 6 million are primary forest. In the United States studies approximate 54 million trees are cut each year for toilet

paper production alone! Often forests are cleared and replanted as timber plantations, often of a single species, which

is a tremendous habitat change from a productive, biodiverse forest. This entire process causes significant air, water,

and soil pollution, and destroys habitat for wildlife. The pulp and paper industry alone accounts for 4% of worldwide

energy use. In the US, paper products account for over a quarter of all landfill waste, the vast majority of which is

recyclable. Fortunately, paper can be recycled, and the manufacture of paper products using post-consumer materialrequires 40% less energy overall than it does to create paper from virgin pulp. In the 21st century more and more paper

products are available to the individual which are made from recycled paper.

Glass

Glass is another very commonly used material in the 21st century. Glass is extraordinary in that

it is 100% recyclable, and can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality. In glass production

raw materials such as sand, limestone, and ash are heated together and molded to create

specific forms. Recycled glass can be used to substitute for 95% of the raw materials needed in

glass production. This means that every time you recycle a glass container it cancels out the

need for additional raw materials to be used to make the next glass container! The recycling

rates of glass vary, and as with the other materials mentioned here there exists a grand

opportunity to increase its recycling, globally.

Hazardous Material! Keep It Out ...Of Your Trash

Hazardous waste is a special class of wastes that pose specific and significant risks to human and

environmental health. Historically, hazardous wastes were discarded with normal household

trash, which has led to contaminated soils and groundwater. Hazardous wastes are those which exhibit one or more of

the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and/or toxicity, and may appear in a gaseous, liquid, or

solid state. Included are common household chemicals, paints and solvents, among

others. Hazardous wastes should be disposed of properly, and this is best done by

waste management services.

Waste from electronic devices and hardware (e-waste) presents new challenges for

waste management systems in the 21st century. Used computers and other

electronic devices and their batteries are dangerous to handle, and should be

treated as hazardous wastes not to be mixed in with normal household waste. By



having a knowledge of what hazardous waste is, how to store it, and later how to dispose of it, you are doing a valuable

service for the health of your family and local community.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The reduce-reuse-recycle model is a useful tool for applying sustainable practices into your daily life. Every day we are

faced with situations where we must decide what to do with the wastes associated with the products we consume.

Recycling saves energy! In 2012 recycling and composting of municipal solid wastes in the United States saved the same

amount of energy that is used by 10 million households in a year. We can lower our ecological footprint and save

money when we consume intelligently, choose to decrease how much waste we create, and to separate our wastes

efficiently from what we do consume. For example, when you stop into a store and purchase a soft drink and bag of

chips you will soon have plastic waste to deal with:

o You may choose to reduce your consumption of such products which are

meant for a single use, by simply changing your patterns of consumption.

You may reduce your consumption to zero and choose not purchase

disposable products at all, given the amount of energy that was

required to produce them, and their lasting negative impact upon theplanet.

o You may choose a reusable product instead, such as a reusable coffee

mug, water canteen, or a reusable shopping bag made of cloth or recycled

materials. You may also choose to reuse an otherwise “single use” product after its first initial use,

such as reusing plastic shopping bags for another, non-food use. Reusing a product does not change

the original intended function, and therefore the product may still be recycled at a later time.

o You may recycle, which is an industrial process which effectively breaks down the product into its

base materials, which can then be processed into new consumer products. In most areas around

the globe glass and aluminum are recyclable and even have redemption value when returned.

Recycling is a simple practice which is useful for maintaining a healthy home, community, and

planet.

Clearly, reduction will have the most immediate, effective, and direct impact on the issues of overconsumption and

disposable waste pollution facing our planet. We of course admit that it can be difficult to change your lifestyle, habits,

and patterns of consumption. Just remember, although changing your patterns of consumption may seem difficult at

first it is most definitely possible and worthwhile – never underestimate the power of yourself and other humans to

evolve and adapt! Also, by supporting and participating in recycling programs in your city you become part of the

solution by helping divert waste from landfills.

What is Upcycling? Eco Art?Upcycling is the process of crafting using products and materials which have been discarded. Eco-art is the result of

creative upcycling using whatever resources or methods available. Upcycling is the process; eco-art is the result!



7 Reasons why you should practice upcycling:

1. It is a practice of transformation; taking something which has outlived its present use and creating something

NEW.

2.

It is a practice that requires imagination; to create something unique and personal when there ARE NO RULES. It

is especially useful practice to share with children, who are full of imagination and creativity, as it focuses more

on the process of creation and transformation, than on the final product itself.

3.

It is an earth-friendly practice. It gives another use for products and materials which would otherwise beconsidered “trash”, reducing pollution in landfills.

4. It is an empowering practice. It turns around the consumer-producer relationship for an individual to produce

for themselves from commonly available products and materials.

5. It is economic. When we upcycle and craft eco-art we spend little or no money on materials. Instead we spend

our time- which is valuable too!

6.

It is proactive. For many of the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century upcycling can be a simple but

powerful practice to take control of your livelihood and become more self-sufficient.

7. It is positive. Upcycling waste into eco-art can be an excellent example for family, friends, and neighbors. It

sends the message that you have hope and vision for the future beyond the superficiality of the current high

consumption, disposable popular culture.

Tools Needed & Safety

The upcycling projects that follow are specifically intended to be made from easily available products and materials, and

they should be free, saved from the landfill. There should be plenty of cans, bottles, and bags available to you, but if you

cannot find any materials in your household, call a friend or head over to the nearest shopping center and you will find

trashcans overflowing with great material. Soon your friends and family will be saving their recycling just to give it to

you!

Tools needed are also those which are commonly found in the household. A basic set of crafting tools should be

sufficient to get started. Scissors, pocket knives, and razor cutters work for cutting materials. Tapes and glues will serve

well for adhesion and attaching materials together. Many of the following projects also include painting, and what paint

type you use will be your decision.

Safety should be a top priority when undertaking any of these or any other upcycling activity! If you cannot find a way

to do it safely, do not do it. Clean all materials before upcycling them and if they cannot be acceptably cleaned (from

rust, molds, etc...) use a different piece. When cutting aluminum or other metals, plastics, and even paper products,

sharp edges are exposed and pose a hazard. Be safe, use personal protection gear, such as gloves, safety glasses, shoes,

long sleeves, and pants when necessary. Be smart, no project is so important that you should risk your health to

complete it!

Easy Upcycling Project Ideas

In this section we would like to share some of our favorite upcycling projects that are easy to do-it-yourself. We invite

you to be creative, think outside of the box, and most importantly- have fun! In this manual we have included several

upcycling projects which you can do at home using aluminum beverage cans, plastic bags and bottles, paper products,

and even old tires. We have not included any projects using glass – but remember these examples are just scratching

the surface so don’t hesitate to experiment and create your own!



Metals

a. Aluminum Flower Tray

Materials: Aluminum beverage can. Scissors.

Pocket knife or cutting razor.

Step1: Cut the off the top of the can, just below

the neck.

Step 2: Cut vertical strips from the openend to ~1-2 Centimeters from the bottom

neck.

Step 3: Pull strips until they are parallel

with the floor,

folding strips downward to create pattern.

Remember: Be careful when cutting into the can. Both the initial cut needed to remove the top and the cutting

of the strips with scissors will expose you to sharp metal and there is a serious risk of cutting yourself!

Also: This simple project has many potential uses. This flower could be a piece of art on the wall. Other uses could be

an ashtray, small waste bin, candle holder, or storage for small things such as seeds or jewelry. Remember that any

extra aluminum scrap can be recycled. Most importantly, use your imagination!

b. Bottle Cap Earrings

Materials: Bottle caps like those from glass bottles. Hammer. Laminating plastic. Small wire (for earring

attachments). Images to use as decoration.

Step 1: Place bottle cap top facing down and use a hammer to flatten out the wavy edges.

Step 2: Place images/stickers etc. on the inside of the cap.

Use plastic to laminate the inside of the cap, covering the

decoration. Step 3: Use a nail with the hammer to make a

small hole at top of desired side. Step 4: To create the

earring ‘hook’ you may choose to: reuse hooks from oldearrings, buy new earring hooks, or use any other wire that

you have available and is comfortable!

Remember: This low cost and easy to make earring is

great for yourself or friends as gifts, especially for a beer

lover!

Also: Be Creative! Instead of earrings, make it a necklace or refrigerator magnet.

Materials

Step 1Step 2

Step 3

Aluminum Flower Tray

Bottle Cap Earrings



Additional upcycling ideas with aluminum

Picture Frame Mirror – Begin by cutting aluminum cans into many small pieces. Next use

double sided tape (or glue) to fasten the pieces to a picture frame or mirror!

Plastics

a.

Weaving with plastic

Materials: Plastic shopping bags (Clean all plastic bags prior to upcycling)

Scissors. Crochet hook.

Step 1: Cut the bottom and handles off of plastic bags,

and roll the remaining bag. Step 2: Cut 1-2 centimeter strips, leaving a

2 cm strip remaining. Step 3: Unroll the bag, and cut diagonally from

the outside of one strip to the inside of the next, creating a continuous

string from the single plastic bag. Step 4: Roll the plastic ‘yarn’ into a

ball for easy storage- it is now ready to use!

Remember: After creating your plastic yarn/string it may be used for

any number of crafting projects, in this example we use a crochet hook

to create handbags, bracelets, and hot pads in the same manner as you

would with regular yarn. Be creative and experiment, make something

which has never been made before!Materials

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Picture Frame Mirror

Step 4

Finished bag!

Plastic Yarn!



b. Bottle Planter/Mini Huerto

Materials: Plastic bottle of any size

(1 Liter or less would be best, depending on what you plan to grow in your

mini-huerto). Scissors and/or razor. Paint (optional)

Step 1: Cut the top off of the plastic bottle. Step 2: Cut parallel strips of ~4 cm

length down from the top of the bottle, at this point you make additional cuts

to each strip for style if desired. Step 3: Cut a small slit below for each strip to

fit into tightly. Also put several holes at the bottom and sides for drainage.Step 4: Paint the outside of the bottle. Step 5: After acquiring plants and soil

for substrate – plant it! Place mini-huerto indoors or outside in a site where it

will receive adequate sunlight, and water according to the plant’s needs!

Remember: The plastic bottle planter can be a great medium for growing small plants,

such as succulents or cactus in the home.

Also: A fun way twist on this project is in the collection of the plant(s) and soil for the planter. Ideally

the plants can be propagated from another plant, such as a succulent or herb such as mint or thyme.

Placing quartz crystals or other stones, sticks or other natural items can also enhance the quality of your

mini-huerto!

c. Bottle Holder

Materials: Plastic Bottle (PET). Scissors/Cutting Razor. Zipper.

Hot Glue.

Step 1: Completely cut off the top of the bottle with a razor.

Step 2: Glue the zipper on the inside of both pieces of the plastic

bottle.

This is a simple project which only requires the purchase of a

zipper, which can be found at most craft supply stores. The

resulting pen holder is a very useful storage for school or crafting

supplies, or any other type of treasure!

PAPER

a. Paper roll art

Materials: Paper rolls. These can be from toilet paper or paper towels. Scissors

Glue. Paint (optional).

Step 1: Cut paper rolls 1-2 centimeter rings.

Step 2: Choose a design (or create your own!)

Step 3: Firmly glue paper roll rings to eachother. Step 4: Paint or add any other

decoration to the final design.

Step 2Materials & Step 1

Bottle Holder

Mini Huerto



Remember: It is important to make sure that rolls are securely glued to each other.

A favorite eco-art project has been the ‘flower catcher’, a flower of life made of

paper rolls that hangs in your bedroom!

b. Egg Carton Flowers

Materials: Egg Cartons. Scissors. Glue. Paint(optional)

Step 1: Cut the carton into individual egg holders.

Step 2: Cut each egg holder several times to create

‘petals’. Step 3: Combine to create unique designs

and glue it together.

Remember: You can make your flowers any shape you like! For

added color and texture paint each layer before gluing it together.

Additional Projects with PaperCardboard Wallets – Another project idea that we have been successful with are

wallets using cardboard boxes, such as those that cereal comes in. You can

choose pictures from magazines or your own photos to cover the wallet, then

use a laminating plastic to cover and protect the outside. We have seen many

various designs for upcycled wallets, and each one inspires us to be more

creative!

Gift Bags- From using newspaper to wrap presents to creating gift bags from

newspaper complete with handles, there exist many possibilities to create your

Step 3

Step 2

Step 3

Egg Carton Flowers Materials and Step 1

Cardboard Wallets

Flower Catchers



BIGGER IDEAS

For each of the material groups covered in this book; plastics, metals, glass, and paper, a significant opportunity exists to

increase the amount of material recycled. Also there exists a great market for products made with post-consumer

materials. Increasing the amount of disposable products that are recycled is a very realistic goal and one where we can

all participate. Every person has the ability and opportunity to consume less, consume smarter, and recycle more.

Anybody can be an example to their family, friends, and community of what is possible for humans committed to livingin better harmony with the planet in the 21st century.

Composting

Composting is another wonderful technology we have at our disposal for reducing the amount of household waste we

send to the landfill by turning organic wastes into soil. Green or organic waste should not be mixed with plastics and

other inorganic wastes, instead it should be left to break down and return into dark, nutrient rich soil. In 2012, more

than a quarter of landfill material was kitchen and garden waste, most of which could be effectively dealt with and

recycled at home. When we practice composting, we simply set the stage and conditions for microorganisms to break

down organic matter into soil, with nothing more than air, water, and time. Composting truly is a simple, cheap, and

effective technology that can reduce landfill waste while creating soil as a product, a valuable resource made entirely

from “waste” materials.

Sustainable Architecture

There are many organizations and indeed a growing movement worldwide towards building using upcycled materials

and methods. In most areas of Earth today, fresh water, clean air, and healthy soils are natural resources which are

becoming increasingly limited and increasingly polluted, and the modern household is often inefficiently designed to

protect them. In addition, many of the materials used to build and insulate our homes are actually toxic to the human

body if ingested or inhaled. Earthship Biotecture is a model designed to create homes that use resources and recycle

wastes in an efficient manner, while using locally available and upcycled building materials to create a comfortable,

functional home at a much lower cost to the homeowner and local environment.

There have been many other projects designed to bring light to the degree of worldwide plastic pollution to the public

consciousness. Plastiki is one such project that has been created to raise awareness about the problem of persistent

plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. To do so, they have built a boat out of 12,500 2-Liter plastic bottles and sailed it

across the Pacific Ocean.

Other groups have chosen to integrate upcycling into humanitarian projects. RiseNow is a group from the United States

which among other things creates playgrounds using recycled materials,

primarily used vehicle tires. Their model is an example of community buildingwhere locally abundant and discarded materials such as used tires are upcycled

to create an area for children to play, something every child deserves! RiseNow

creates “eco-parks” in places where no playgrounds exist, bringing together

volunteers and the community to create functional and beautiful public spaces

for children and their families to meet and play.



Individual and Industrial Pollution

With this guide we encourage everyone to do their part to reduce their ecological footprint to improve the quality of life

for present and future generations. It is important to understand the difference between pollution which originates

from an individual’s consumption of products and that which is created by the industrial consumption of natural

resources. As individual consumers in the 21st century we create much more waste from disposable products and

synthetic materials than people did last century, and this is especially true in the industrialized economies in the global

north. At the same time industrial pollution is on a much greater scale, and capable of causing much greater damage toEarth’s natural systems, and more quickly. It is well documented that more than half of the world’s economic wealth is

held by just 1% of the world population, and much harm is needlessly caused to Earth’s ecosystems in the name of

generating money. As consumers we are always making choices on what we buy, when we buy it, and from whom. By

choosing to support products, companies, and ultimately industries with ethical business practices we hold great power

for deciding the future health of our planet. When we choose not to support companies and industries that carelessly

pollute the earth we have realized a simple means to have an effective impact on such a large and complicated problem

as global pollution.

Ecological Justice

Ecological Justice is a movement which works intentionally towards creating harmony between Earth’s economic,

ecological, and social systems. Ecological Justice aims to give a voice to traditionally voiceless populations on Earth – the

plants, animals, water, air, and soil, the natural resources that sustain all life as we know it. Classic economic theory

does not fairly value the services that ecological systems provide in monetary terms, which often leads to the

unnecessary damage to ecosystems in practice. Ecological economics operates within the current global

economic/capitalist system to quantify the services that nature provides to humans in definite, monetary terms.

Ecological health, economic health, and social health are equally important, and sustainable when balanced. Therefore,

as you go forward think about how your actions as a consumer will impact the health of the environment and the other

people in your community, in addition to your wallet.

Now you are ready to start upcycling. Take your time, use your imagination, and most importantly, have fun!



Glossary of Terms

Consumer- The individual who purchases and uses products and materials, creating wastes.

Degradation – The natural process of materials breaking down into simpler materials over time, due to sunlight, air, and

water.

Ecological Footprint – The amount of land required to sustain a certain individual or groups current consumption.

Industry – Organizations composed of individuals which as practice consume natural resources and materials, create

products, and create wastes.

Landfill – The location where solid wastes are accumulated and buried on land.

Material – Basic components derived from virgin, natural resources which are processed by industry into products.

Overconsumption – A situation where more natural resources are removed from a system than are replaced.

Pollution – The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment (soil, air, water, etc..) by industry and

individuals.

Product – The resulting items manufactured from one or more materials which are consumed by individuals and

disposed of.

Recycle – The collection and processing of products into their unique materials, in order to make new products.

Upcycle – The process of crafting using common consumer products after their usable life has ended, for purposes other

than their intended use.

References

1. Global Footprint Network. Footprint Calculator.

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/.

2. Leigh County, Pennsylvania. Aluminum Recycling Facts.

http://www.lehighcounty.org/departments/solidwastemanagement/recyclingfacts/aluminum/tabid/520/defaul

t.aspx.

3. Alcoa. Recycling: Our Position On Recycling. http://www.alcoa.com/recycling/en/info_page/position.asp.

4. Eriksen, M, et al. (2014). Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing

Over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea. PLoS ONE. 9(12): e111913. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111913.

5. Robbins, Noelle. (2010). Flushing Forests. World Watch Magazine. 23(3) http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6403

6.

Glass Packaging Institute. Glass Recycling Facts. http://www.gpi.org/recycling/glass-recycling-facts.

7.

Earthship Biotecture. http://earthship.com/Systems/.

8. Plastiki Expedition. http://theplastiki.com/.

9. Rise Now. http://www.rise-now.org/.

10. American Chemistry Council. Position on Recycling. http://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Sustainability.

11. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in

the United States: Facts and Figures for 2012.

http://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/2012_msw_fs.pdf .

12. Quality Logo Products. Different Types of Plastics and Their Number Classifications (Codes).

https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/lib/different-types-of-plastic.htm .

http://www.lehighcounty.org/departments/solidwastemanagement/recyclingfacts/aluminum/tabid/520/default.aspx


http://www.alcoa.com/recycling/en/info_page/position.asp

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6403


http://www.gpi.org/recycling/glass-recycling-facts


http://earthship.com/Systems/


http://www.rise-now.org/


http://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Sustainability


http://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/2012_msw_fs.pdf


https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/lib/different-types-of-plastic.htm









http://www.alcoa.com/recycling/en/info_page/position.asp



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