Upcycle or Donate

Can it be reused...

Maybe you don’t need those curtains or blinds any more, or that piece of furniture, light-fitting, carpet, or bedding – but could you update it, or find someone else who will?

Upcycling is not only good for the environment by keeping items out of the landfill, it is an increasingly popular hobby and, for some, a way to top up their income.

If you are unable to give something a new life with a lick of paint or new fabric you have a range of options for helping it be revived by someone else.

Options, depending on the item and its condition, include:

• Listing it for sale or giveaway on one of the many on-line sites
• Taking it to an auction house or second-hand shop for resale
• Gifting it to a charity shop for resale
• Contacting local artists who specialise in revamping furniture
• Donating suitable items to charities such as curtain banks
• Finding a second-hand whiteware seller who will take non-working machines off your hands, fix it and then sell it (you won’t see any money but you’ll have saved it from the landfill)
• If you have tired bikes and kids toys that need some work, find an organisation such as Menz Shed. The members often repair things and then donate them to charities or sell them to raise funds for their organisation

VIEW A MAP OF HASTINGS OP SHOPS HERE

If you do have a go yourself the results can be very cool, particularly if you are using older furniture with a weight and character that is hard to find today; or a light fitting that will be a one-off piece that will shine in your home once it has had a spray paint.

Looking for inspiration? Searching ‘upcycling projects nz DIY’ on-line brings up a raft of information, ideas and projects.