40 Green and Creative Ways to Upcycle Glass, Paper, Plastic and Metals - Infographic

Humans are literally drowning in trash!

The rapidly-growing amount of waste is a critical environmental issue.

The average person creates 4.3 pounds of waste per day—added up, that’s a lot of

trash coming out of one household!

Not to mention that this number has only increased over the decades.

There are recycling programs in place to help, and many folks participate in that.

But what if you could do more quite simply, right in your own home?

Upcycling is one solution many are looking to to slow the creation of waste.

Upcycling vs Recycling

40 Green and Creative Ways to Upcycle Glass, Paper, Plastic and Metals - Infographic

Why consider upcycling?

According to the article “Recycling vs. Upcycling: What is the difference” upcycling is described

by some as reusing a material without degrading the quality and composition of the material for

its next use.

When plastic bottles are recycled, for instance, most often they cannot be turned back into

containers associated with anything that can be ingested due to the risk of things seeping

into the plastic.

As a result, these usually become carpets, or toys, or winter fleeces: things that will eventually

also become trash.

Recycling has simply prolonged the inevitable by stretching out our waste stream and made the

lifecycle costs of the material a bit less.

Upcycling represents a truly cyclical, balanced process that all industries and companies should

be aiming towards.

All of our products could be drastically changed if the beginning of their design started with the

goal of not having them end up in a landfill.

40 Green and Creative Ways to Upcycle Glass, Paper, Plastic and Metals - Infographic

A number of ways could be utilities to train our economy into an inherent practice of reuse.

Upcycling is a plus for the environment because it reduces the amount of waste that we produce

and ultimately goes into the ground for longer than any of us will be around.

Secondly, it also reduces the need for new virgin material to be harvested as feedstock for new

generations of product.

In the case of plastic, this means less oil wells drilled.

For metals, less mountains mined.

For paper, less trees felled.

All around this means less expended energy.

So instead of just throwing something out or even recycling it–repurposing or upcycling something

gives jars, plastic bottles, paper, or other household items a second life.

How to Repurpose Your Trash

40 Green and Creative Ways to Upcycle Glass, Paper, Plastic and Metals - Infographic

Are you looking for new ways to protect the planet—and have fun while doing it?

Reusing your recyclables can act as fun arts and crafts projects or add helpful home improvements.

If you’re looking to improve your daily waste habits and have fun while doing it, Personal Creations

created a graphic that illustrates creative ideas to reuse recyclable products, to help you do your part.

40 Green and Creative Ways to Upcycle Glass, Paper, Plastic and Metals - Infographic

They’ve compiled 40 new and interesting ways you can reuse any recyclable in your home.

Covering plastic, glass, paper and aluminum, the ideas include everything from fun arts and crafts

projects to home hacks.

40 Green and Creative Ways to Upcycle Glass, Paper, Plastic and Metals - Infographic

 

What are your favorite items to upcycle?

What are your some of your favorite upcycled creations?

Share your suggestions, thoughts and comments with us.