Reuse Presentation

Hello my name is Sarah Lyon and I am an Arizona State University student completing my Executive Master of Sustainability Leadership. Don’t worry about taking notes this presentation can be found at http://reusephoenix.weebly.com/. Photo from Pinterest amazinginteriordesign.com.

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Reusing items can help you save money, unleash your creativity, and feel good by setting an example for others and making a difference. It is easy to reuse and become a reuse hero! This presentation will tell you how. But first let’s define reuse. Photo by Hilighters.

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Reuse is to use something again.

Creative reuse or repurposing is the process of taking unwanted items and giving them a new life by transforming them into pieces of art, home decoration or other useful items. Upcycling has a similar meaning, which is to reuse discarded materials in a way that creates a product of a higher value, but for this presentation I’ll stick to using the term creative reuse. Some examples. Reuse: I bought this jacket at the Goodwill, so I am using it again for the same purpose. Creative reuse: With the money I saved from buying a jacket at the thrift store I can put it in a coffee can and use it as a bank (new purpose for the coffee can). You could decorate the coffee can, but you don’t have to, it is your choice. Photo #1 from Pinterest nemomatic.com.

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Items to reuse can come from individuals or businesses. How many people like puzzles or mysteries? What would you do with these two items? Think about it and I’ll go over some ideas coming up, along with telling you a story of where the sock comes from.

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As I mentioned it saves money and helps you make a difference. --Reduce, reuse, recycle order is in the order of least impact to the environment. Reusing uses less energy than recycling. Before throwing an item away ask: Can I use this item in another way? Can someone else use this item? If no, then can this item be recycled? --Prevents pollution caused by harvesting new materials, saves energy and reduces waste going to landfill. --Helps meet zero waste goals that many cities and businesses are implementing due to an increasing population and resource constraints. --Creates jobs. According to a 2011 study from the Tellus Institute, reusing 10,000 tons of waste creates between 41 and 216 jobs while landfilling it creates only 6 jobs (Bradley & Remolador, 2015). Reference: Bradley, A. & Remolador, M. (2015, August). Rallying around reuse. Resource Recycling, 23. Photo #1 Clip Art (okay to use since this presentation is for education) and #2 King of the Trash Hill by Alan Levine.

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Easiest way to reuse is donating. Show Adobe Voice clip. Donate to your favorite cause or make it super easy and give to The Salvation Army or Goodwill. You can even call for a free donation pick up. Donating can save you money on taxes. Items that you don’t think a thrift store will take, like moving boxes or other items, put on Freecycle or Craigslist. Photo from Howard Lake.

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How else can you be a reuse hero and help others? --Buy used (garage sales, thrift stores, consignment shops, etc.) -Also donation shopping, get the high plus good feelings, but make sure you have your favorite charity’s donation list before buying --Buy reusable over disposable items. It might be more expensive at first, but saves money in the end. -Waste free lunches estimates you can save $1.37 per day using reusable containers (versus sandwich bags) and avoiding single serving products

--Buy in bulk and items with less packaging -- Repair items

-iFixit instruction website

-- Rent (Zilock rental website, Home Depot or Lowes rents tools, party rentals, etc.), borrow or share items used infrequently (we don’t do much of this in our society) All of these save you money!

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When I first started creatively reusing things I did not consider myself artistic. I was not expecting to have so much fun creating something and while I still can’t draw or paint a masterpiece, I can use my glue gun and regular painting skills to make items (see first picture). It is a fun, cheap way to spend time with your children or friends. --Where to get ideas for finding the answer to the question of What will you make? --Try searching Pinterest or Google using reuse, repurpose or upcycling as search words. If you have a certain interest or material in mind combine it, example upcycling furniture ideas or toilet paper roll reuse. Also search YouTube has videos on how to make items. Photo #1 from Pinterest listotic.com.

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A Creative Reuse Center can be described as a craft store combined with a funky garage sale where paper towel rolls, coffee cans, stacks of paper, bins of colorful material, and other odds and end items are waiting to be transformed. It is full of creative possibilities for people to try! Some also have classes and places to create projects onsite (like a paint your own pottery store).

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Any entrepreneurs? Other people’s castoffs can be the key to your success. There are opportunities to start creative reuse centers in most cities or college campuses or can combine and start a creative reuse center within thrift stores or science or children’s museums. Photo from Pinterest thefrugalfemale.com.

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How can you be a reuse hero at work while saving money? Encourage and practice: --Reusing in procurement -Buying used or leasing items, buying items in bulk and buying reusable items (such as reusable bins or refillable pens) --Maintaining and repairing items --Donating items including food waste (employees, food banks, shelters or composting) Before throwing an item away ask: Can I use this item in another way? Can someone else use this item within the organization or outside it? If no, then can this item be recycled? Most organizations are not good at reusing items within the organization! Photo by Nrbelex.

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Business reuse doesn’t have to cost a lot. Take a look at this picture. Even in an expensive law firm what conference table and art do you think would get more positive attention, ones that costs thousands of dollars or creative reuse art and a table made from pallets? Picture from Pinterest cdn.homedit.com.

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Ping uses the white socks to protect the head of the golf club until it finishes the manufacturing process. The sock is no longer needed and was being thrown away. They now give the socks to Treasures 4 Teachers (a local creative reuse center) who gives some of them to the animal shelters for the workers to use to protect the animals from licking their feet or for general cleaning care. What ideas did you come up with to the puzzle or mystery of what you could make? Sock Puppets Gift bags Eraser CD white board Bean bags for game or stress relief Reusable compress just add rice (warm up in the microwave 30 seconds)

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Paper Towel Rolls Gift boxes Get your Reuse Hero Cuffs ready! Home decoration Combine with other items to make a desk organizer Photos from Pinterest #1 limeandmortar.com, # 2 rachaelrabbit.blogspot.com, #3 jamiebrock.hubpages.com, and #4 modpodgerocksblog.com.

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We went over how to become a reuse hero and how reusing can help you save money, unleash your creativity, and feel good by setting an example for others. It is up to you now… Photo one of the background wallpaper computer option from 1990s.

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Photo from Pinterest homeandgarden.craftgossip.com.

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Remember you can start off easily by donating, then try buy used items, practice donation shopping, buy reusable over disposable items, buy in items in bulk, repair items, rent, borrow or share items, practice creative reuse, even start your own center, and take these concepts to work with you. You don’t have to do everything at once, pick what works for you, get started, ask three questions before throwing an item away, and spread the word about reuse! Become a reuse hero and make a difference! For more a copy of this presentation and more information on the topics covered today see http://reusephoenix.weebly.com Photo by Hilighters.

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