Recycling & Upcycling

Today I am excited to share a post with you by Nadia at Teach Me Mommy. She is from South Africa and she gives the unique perspective of how their culture views trash and recycling goods. At the end she even has a great activity to make a craft from recycled goods!

Crafts and crafting is a popular activity here in South Africa. Not just is it a hobby, but for lots of people it is a way of income. Some will sell their crafts on the corner of the road, some at flea/craft markets and some will sell it in shops.
Most of the crafts are made from inexpensive material, or recycling material. Here are a few of them.

Beading is a typical craft of local black South African people. They make all kinds of items they can sell, and these items will amaze you! Here are a few, of many, ideas of what one can make from beads and wire:

The kids made these beaded crafts in Creative Little Hands class in the past:

These are made by recycling some cold drink cans

A few years back a new law was established namely “Pay for Plastic bags”. You have to pay a small amount if you want a plastic grocery bag at some shops. The idea is that we will use fabric bags instead to reduce the use, and mis-use of plastic bags. One can drop off your old bags in a recycling bin or reuse it.
Look at this clever way to reuse plastic bags:

Plastic bags can be weaved and then made into place mats, hats, bags and so much more!

Plastic bottles also get recycled on a daily basis, there are people that goes around the trash cans and collect the plastic bottles, they take it to the recycling factory in exchange for money. The unemployment statistics of South Africa is(unfortunately) very high, and recycling plastic bottles in this way is for some the only income they have.
Others use it in crafts like these:

This is a pretty craft we made the other day, a bouquet of flowers, made from a 2 liter plastic bottle! Make this Recycling Upcycling craft yourself today!

Here is what you need:
– a clear plastic 2 liter bottle
– extra bottle tops
– pipe cleaners or wooden sticks
– permanent felt tip pens
– glue
– string
– tissue paper

What to do:
– cut the bottle as shown in the photo below. Then cut 3 flowers, or as many as you can
– colour the flowers with the pens, and the holder if you wish
– glue the flowers onto the pipe cleaners
– wrap the ribbon around the bottom end of the holder
– glue the bottle tops to the centre of the flowers
– add the flowers to the holder by using the tissue paper

I hope you enjoyed reading about some ways we recycle in my country.
I do encourage you to do recycle crafts with your kids. Not only is is fun, but it is saving our planet!

Happy Earth Day!

Nadia blogs over at Teach me Mommyabout easy and playful activities with the aim to teach. She is a teacher turned mommy of an almost 4 year old girl and 15 month old boy. You can connect with her through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram.

 

 

You might enjoy the following posts where Teach Me Mommy has used recyclables:
Spring Printing
Spring flower Recycle craft
Fine motor play: Pompom run