Waste? Not!: Week 2 - Bras, booze and burials

Bras are hard to upcycle. I've been trying to create a "bra roundup" for years... and have failed. Because really, outside of the dog ball, these upcycles are funny, but not terribly realistic right? Having said that, bras aren't really thrift-store material either. So what on earth do you do with them when they're worn out??


First, here are the links to the projects pictured above:

1. The toy

2. The dog ball

3. The purse

4. The planter

If you aren't going to craft with your old bras (!) consider donating them to these organizations:

"When you donate a bra, you give a former slave a job." Free the Girls is a non-profit organization that provides job opportunities for survivors of sex trafficking. Please click through and find out more about them!

Another great option in the US: The Bra Recyclers

And in the UK: BreastTalk

And now Booze. Because why not? I'm a beer drinker. One of those craft-beer types that drive some "all-American" men batty. Obviously, beer bottles are recyclable. And now, more and more of my favorite local breweries (like Revolution) are putting their beer in cans. Most definitely recyclable. But the question always arises: what about the bottle caps? There are plenty of fun ways you can repurpose them but, guess what? Bottle tops ARE RECYCLABLE. 

The best way to do it? Collect them in can that will also be recycled, then pinch the top of the can closed. This is helpful because bottle tops are small and fall through the cracks ... making them annoyingly dangerous in recycling plants. 

What if you prefer wine? Again, the bottle is easily recycled. How about the cork? Actually,YES, but not in your single-stream recycling. 

There are two organizations (that I can find) that recycle cork. ReCork and Cork ReHarvest. They both have lots of drop-off locations across the US (and around the world) and it's worth making the effort. Did you know cork is a renewable resource? Properly harvested cork trees replace what's taken from them in about 7 years. And those that are harvested live more than twice as long as trees that are never touched. On top of all that, the material they create is incredibly durable and has potential far beyond your wine cork. So please ReCork! 

Finally, I'm going to mention burial. Because I spotted this idea and I have to share it! What if, instead of just being plunked in the ground, you became part of a forest? What if you (or your pet) could be turned into a tree of your choice? That's what Bios Urn is proposing, the first biodegradable urn designed to convert you into a tree after life. Yes?