SLC-S29/W6-“Thinking and Ideas!| One Idea Worth Spreading!”

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I saw one woman today packing plastic bottles inside a big sack. Back then,people will just be throwing it anyway and burn them anyhow, this will block gutters and cause flood. But now, they knows that those bottles is money. They do gather it, later sell it to buyers which will use it to recycle into new chairs, bags, or even roofing sheets. Thats how waste turn to wealth.

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The idea is Recycling Art and Creativity Beyond Plastics. However In nature, recycling do happens every day without any man forcing it. The Leaves will fall from tree, they will later decay and turn to soil that give food back to the tree. Animal will eat plant, when they dies or when the pass stool the waste will go back to the ground and make the soil rich in nutrients again. Even water move in circle, from rain to river, from the river to sea, then back as cloud and will rain again. Truly, Nothing is wasted, everything go back into the system. That is how nature show us that recycling is natural way to keep balance and life moving.

So with that in mind, we shouldn't stop for plastics and rubbers alone. We are already used to that one. Let’s shift our eye to other surprising recycling methods which people don't expect—like nylon, coconut shells, broken ceramics, old clothes, palm kernel shells, and even discarded wood. Below materials is everywhere, but people do ignore them.

• Nylon (pure water sachets etc): People do throw it anyhow, but this can be wash, dry, and sell to recycling companies. Some are melt to produce new plastic products.

• Coconut shells: No doubt it can surely be polish into lovely cups, spoons, or jewelry.

• Broken ceramics: it can be well arrange into mosaic tiles for beautiful house decoration.

• Old clothes and fabric scraps: This can be weave into rugs, bags, or even wall art.

• Palm kernel shells: It can be burn as eco-friendly charcoal or use for decoration.

• Discarded wood pieces: Also it can be carve into stools, shelves, or art sculptures.

This idea can improve lives because it will surely open new business opportunities, inspire creativity, and reduce waste which people don't even notice.

Pixabay

This idea important now because:

• We do waste too many hidden resources: Nylon sachets is littered everywhere, even in the street we do see them sticked on the soil. Also coconut shells do pile up for market, and old clothes also rot for dustbin.

• Economic pressure is high: Nigerians are finding new hustles. Recycling these unexpected materials can create fresh businesses.

• Creativity is in demand: People will love unique handmade items and will love to make it themselves. Imagine selling coconut-shell cups or nylon-woven mats online— that will surely be a global market.

Example 1: Tailors can gather fabric scraps, weave it into colorful mats which can be sell for good money.

Example 2: Some artists can do use broken plates to design mosaic tables which will shine for hotels as design to attract people.

Example 3: Coconut shells which people do throw away at market can be polish into jewelry, cups and spoons which can be exported.

Example 4: Nylon sachets which is littering on the street can be wash, dry, and sell to recycling companies that are paying per kilo.

ETC...

• Youths: Because they can use creativity to turn waste into business.

• Market women: Because they always handle coconut, palm kernel, nylon, and fabric scraps daily. However Instead of just throwing it away, they can sell it to recyclers and they will surely earn from it.

• The Artist or the craftsmen: Because these set of people are good in using discarded wood, fabrics and ceramics to create different styles and designs of new eye-catching products.

• Entrepreneurs: Because they could just invest in machines or workshops to scale these ideas.

Surely,if these groups hear this idea, recycling will move beyond plastics into surprising new things which people didn't expect.

However,the first small step is to pick one overlooked material and experiment with it.

• Collect nylon sachets from pure water sellers, wash it, dry it, and sell to recycling buyers.

• Gather coconut shells from the market, polish it, and try to carve small cup.

• Pick broken plates, arrange it into colorful design for table top.

• Collect palm kernel shells, use it as charcoal for cooking, then sell it to neighbors.

• Gather fabric scraps from tailor shop, weave it into small rug.

From there, people will see that waste is not to be waste again. It's raw material for creativity and business.

In all, recycling is the art and creativity of nature which is suppose not to stop at plastics and rubbers. We can expand into nylon sachets, coconut shells, fabric scraps, broken ceramics, palm kernel shells, and discarded wood. These materials is everywhere, but people do ignore it. But If we fit use it well, it will reduce waste, create jobs, and inspire new businesses.

I want to sincerely thank our host, @ninapenda, for these amazing six weeks of sacrifice and dedication in bringing us the Thinking and Ideas Learning Challenge. Your effort in receiving and reviewing all the entries, despite the difficulty, has allowed us to share different interesting ideas globally and learn from one another. This challenge has been really so inspiring and enriching to me, and I truly appreciate your commitment. I look forward with excitement to the next season 30!

Cc:
@ninapenda