Trash is generated in offices every day. While we take care of trash thrown out at home, we should try to reuse and recycle office waste also. Loads of paper goes to waste in offices. We take several print outs, read newspapers, throw out old magazines and journals, etc. We drink coffee, juice and water from paper cups all the time. Used pens and CDs are disposed into the trash can. Other things thrown away in trash are coffee cups, used cartridges, CDs, etc. So why not put all these to better use. Here is a list of amazing crafts made from office waste.
1. Lamps and Chandeliers
We use so many ball point pens in office. Did you know that a European designer has made an exquisite chandelier from them? It looks amazing and no one can tell that your ornamental lighting is made from waste. Designed by En Pieza, the recycled pen chandelier is known as the Volivik lamp. Costing $1000 USD, the lamp looks breath taking and oozes out glaring light. It comes in two varieties orange and clear. However the light given out by the clear one is brighter. The plastic spoons used in offices are also thrown out. We generate a pile of these during parties or when you order from take outs and have grub delivered over to your desk. Christian DuCharme has made a beautiful lamp using these plastic spoons. A Swiss designer from Zurich, his work is showcased at the Lafayette Espresso Bar and Market.
2. Coffee cup art
How many times do you need a caffeine fix while at office. Those used coffee cups just add to the litter generated and end up on landfills. But an artist from New York, Gwyneth Leech has turned them into beautiful suspensions. You can liven up your living space with these. The artist works at the Flatiron Prow Art Space, her studio. She paints the used cups with colorful and vibrant patterns, threading them together and turning them into something new. The patterns they are covered with can be flora and fauna, geometric shapes, aerial scenes, landscapes, etc. Dubbed as Hypergraphia: The cup of Drawings, these are quite eye catching.
3. Bin made from waste paper
You can make a trash can from used paper. Take few sheets of paper of the same size. The number of sheets used decides the thickness of the bin. But remember that using too many will make it difficult to bend and fold the used paper. Take a cylindrical container as guide and roll the paper around it. Make your paper cylinder stand and tie a thin rope around its middle. Now remove the cylindrical canister used as a guide. Smash some sheets of paper and press them to the bottom of the paper cylinder crafted. Now your trash can is ready. With small sheet of paper, like from notepads, you can make a small litter box for your desk to discard toffee wrappers, straws, fruits peels, etc. A bigger garbage (made using newspaper sheets) can be placed under the table.
4. Used Metal cans
The metal cans that you drink out of have been put to much better use by M.A. Enriquez. The soda and juice cans are turned into striking and smart neckpieces. To make these aluminum necklaces, the used cans are first cleaned thoroughly, then cut out and shaped as desired. The pieces donât have any sharp metal edges left as they are completely revamped. One of the necklaces designed has a hand shaped logo, it signifies a folk charm used for healing. On the hand, you can still see the Pepsi logo that was imprinted on the can. It is named as âPop Art Aluminum Can Hand Necklaceâ by the artist. The artist also has her own blog by the name of urban woodswalker. Most of her work is up for sale at Etsy.
5. Data storage devices
With new technology coming in every second, data storage devices become redundant. Floppy disks are not used anymore in offices. Diana Ritter has made wall art, wall hangings, photo frames and other trappings from old disks. Many disks are joined together and the artist also uses scrap wood and recycled paper for her work. Most of her creations have abstract designs on them. Butterfly motifs are also common on her work. She also makes holiday décor and fridge magnets from them. Her artwork is also available in themes like celebration, family, holiday, sport, travel, etc.
