Sep 6, 2024
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It is indeed a sad fact that our oceans are full of waste, and our little paradise isn’t exempt from this pollution – as much as 100kg of waste washes up on our shores every month! We work diligently to keep our beaches pristine with regular beach clean-ups, and, being a remote island, we try wherever possible to make use of the waste that we collect.
Upcycling has become an exciting and rewarding team activity for our team – and we thought you might like to see some of their ingenious and creative upcycling ideas. Maybe you could try one or more of them at home?
Here’s how Sakti, Head of Activities, makes candles and hanging baskets from glass bottles washed up on our shores.
Wine bottles, beer bottles, or some of the larger water bottles work really well for this upcycling project. To safely cut a glass bottle into two, you will need a glass bottle cutter. You can find a reasonably priced one on Amazon.
Cut the bottle into two.
Aim to cut the bottle around 10cm from the base. This leaves you with one longer piece from the top and one smaller piece from the base. The neck of the bottle, with the cork or lid attached, becomes a pretty hanging basket with these few simple steps. The base can later become a candle - see below.
Start by wrapping some string firmly around the neck of the bottle and then extend the end of it up away from the cork or lid end. Do this 3 times, so that you have 3 long strings – and then tie the 3 ends together. This should provide enough support to hang your new bottle. (See photo)
Choose the length of your strings according where you plan to hang your new bottle basket.
it with water and insert your potted seedlings. Hang it, and watch them grow!
Now for the candle. The easiest way to make this candle is with a kit, which should include the wick, the centring device and the wax. Try to go for soy wax, as this will burn cleanly and smoothly – without any of the unhealthy chemicals found in traditional paraffin wax. Try here for kits.
Follow the instructions on the kit to first place the wick, then melt the wax and finally pour it
carefully into the base of the glass bottle (leftover from your hanging basket )
Let the wax harden and you are done!
Here’s how Eva, Head of Sustainability, uses washed-up plastic bottles to grow her seedlings and washed-up coconut husks to separate plants in the permaculture garden.
A plastic bottle with its lid on can be a great feeder for seedlings. Simply turn it on its side and cut out holes that your small plant holders will fit into. Tie some string around the neck
and the base. Fill it with water and then insert your potted seedlings. Hang it up, and watch them grow!
A lot of coconut husks wash up on shores throughout Asia. Though these are natural and organic, and so are not considered waste, they do clog the ocean. However, they make a brilliant natural separation solution for the garden. They look pretty too, and also – most importantly! – they don’t add any pollutants into the soil.
Out in the community, the Anambas Foundation has been working with local island communities on fun ways to recycle waste into useful items that can also go on to be sold, creating new sources of income. Here are some of the fabulous bags and penholders produced by recent community projects.
Do you have any wonderful ideas for upcycling ocean waste? We would love to hear from you!
Drop us a note at georgina@bawahreserve.com.
Or why not come to Bawah and see our creations in reality! Make your Bawah enquiry here:
Experience true wellbeing at bawah reserve
A new subtle yet powerful trend - that of being “demure” and “mindful” - has been...
When we think of bees, honeybees often come to mind. However, at Bawah Reserve, a...
In the heart of Southeast Asia lies a hidden gem that promises a retreat into nature,...
It’s safe to say that if you ask someone to name a tropical island destination, they will...
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© Bawah Reserve 2024. Anambas. Riau Islands. Indonesia
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