In 2024, Vancouver’s landfill took in 733,196 tonnes of waste.1 Want to guess how much was recycled through community programs like the Zero Waste Centre? Just 1,709 tonnes.1 That’s less than 0.25%. If that number feels shocking, it should. We often throw things away without thinking twice, but most of what we call “trash” actually still has life in it, especially when it comes to things like cardboard, egg cartons, or plastic.
Why Reusing Matters More Than You Think
Recycling is important, but it’s not as clean or simple as it sounds. It still takes a lot of energy to break materials down and process them again. Reusing skips that step. It gives an item another purpose before it ever hits the bin. That shift in mindset made me realize how powerful reusing can be. Sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet with big lifestyle changes. It’s also about recognizing our individual consumption and choosing to waste less. Especially now, with so much technology around us using energy constantly, I want to focus on what I can reduce.
A Simple Way to Start: (Transforming?) Trash Into Art
I started saving things I would normally throw away and looked at them differently. An egg carton, for example, could hold beads for crafting, be a paint pallet, or even to start seedlings for a garden. I ended up making small animal plaques using layered cardboard and plastic scraps… and it was surprisingly fun! The plaques turned out cute and made great cards. I think this is a perfect summer craft, especially if you’re looking for something hands-on and creative. It’s also something you can easily do with a friend, or even while watching a movie.
Supplies:
- Cardboard scraps (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, boxes)
- Egg carton sections (for 3D noses/ears)
- Plastic containers (for frames or accessories)
- Paint, markers, or glitter
- Scissors/exacto knife
- Glue
Directions
1. Draw the face.
Start by sketching the faces of animals you want to make on cardboard. I decided to make one bunny and one cat! For the bunny, I drew one big oval for the face and two long ears. For the cat, I did a large circle, then added two big triangles for ears and two smaller ones inside those. After drawing them, I cut out all the pieces using scissors, so I had the base shapes ready to go.
2. Cut out the nose.
Take an empty egg carton and cut off two of the rounded bumps (the little stouts).
3. Cut cardboard and plastic.
Cut out some rectangles from cardboard and plastic. The plastic pieces work as overlays on top of the cardboard, kind of like layers or clothing. I used one plastic rectangle to make a little bow by pinching the middle and holding it with glue…
4. Paint everything.
Paint all the separate pieces; if you’re not the best at painting or don’t have the supplies, use markers, pencil crayons, or crayons instead. You can choose whatever colours you want!
5. Let it dry.
Wait a few minutes for the paint to dry. If you’re impatient like me, putting it near a fan helps a lot.
6. Add details with marker.
After everything is dry, use markers to draw on the eyes, mouth, and any little details. On one, I even drew a shirt. You can do whatever adds personality.
7. Glue it all together.
Glue all the pieces onto the base cardboard face: ears, nose, plastic overlays, and the bow. I lined everything up first to make sure I liked where it was going.
8. Make it a card (optional).
If you want to turn it into a card, just glue the finished plaque onto a folded piece of white or coloured paper. It instantly becomes a cute, handmade gift.
Making More Than Just Art
I recommend picking one item from your recycling bin today and asking yourself, “What else could this be?” Then, try turning it into something new. Trash isn’t just trash. Sometimes it’s the beginning of something way more creative. Are there any creative ideas that you can think of for repurposing trash? Let us know in the comments!
References
City of Vancouver. (2024). Annual report for the Vancouver landfill. https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/2024-annual-report-vancouver-landfill.pdf.
