More Upcycling Photos

Upcycling photos from Commerce colleagues and others:

Pics of a hot tub surround made of pop can insulated, concrete covered triangles; and I hear it works!

Lee's basket made from Christmas cards, and Valeri's quilt made from her son's T-shirts! Thanks, Ladies!

Flowers made from paper (phone books, magazines) then turned into jewelry, book markers, etc. See more at this website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/anblathpaipeir


Junk mail turned into gems:
http://www.junkmailgems.com/index.html

AND a boat made out of plastic bottles crosses the Pacific Ocean:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38412525/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Upcycling Lunch - Additional Recycling Update

Upcycling Entries:

Thanks to all who have submitted entries for the upcycling campaign. You have been very creative in using recycled items to make things that are fun and useful. The above pictures show items I received since the last blog (had some trouble with the orientation of the pictures): a 2 liter plastic bottle made into a sprinkler head, toilet paper rolls used for coiling extension cords, decorated with wrapping paper and Christmas cards; clothing made out of other clothing or bed sheets, a wall decoration upcycled from an item once used as a bottle stop/lid, a crocheted produce bag made from a prior craft project, a wooden stool cover made from an old skirt, etc. Thanks for your entries Karen, Kathy, and Carolyn. Our winner from a drawing of these entries is Carolyn from DOPL. Congratulations, Carolyn.

Upcycling Lunch:

We will have a pot luck lunch rather than a brown bag lunch on Tue 7/27 from noon to 1 pm in Rm 210. For those who are able to bring their entries (if I don't already have them), please bring them for viewing. Those who attend the lunch can vote for three upcycling items that they like - the top three vote getters will receive a prize. We will also have some upcycling items that we can make and take. Please RSVP, mmedcalf@utah.gov, and let me know if you can make the lunch.

Recycling Update:

Thank you all for your continued ideas on what we should recycle around here. After researching these ideas, we came up with yet other ways that we can become more green.

--So, please take note that we can now collect dust-off canisters:
http://www.falconsafety.com/falconSafety/environment/recyclingAndTechnicalTraining.aspx
"For consumers wishing to know how and if Dust-Off canisters can be recycled. Dust-Off cans are made of steel and can be recycled with metals in accordance to your local recycling programs. However, PLEASE make sure that all cans are empty of compressed gas prior to recycling. "

--We can also collect lithium batteries for laptops. (We are also still collecting household alkaline and rechargeable batteries).

--Just bring these items to me.

Your ETeam Captain,

Masuda

Brown Bag & Recycling

Plastics Recycling -


Update as to recycling plastics in the U.S., current data as to improvements in recycling plastics and the reasons why some still find it difficult to recycle. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38173694/ns/business-oil_and_energy/

For consumers wishing to know how and if Dust-Off canisters can be recycled. Dust-Off cans are made of steel and can be recycled with metals in accordance to your local recycling programs. However, PLEASE make sure that all cans are empty of compressed gas prior to recycling. http://www.falconsafety.com/falconSafety/environment/recyclingAndTechnicalTraining.aspx