Save Cayman is inviting the community of the Cayman Islands to join in an ‘Upcycle Challenge.’  Adults and youth can dive into their creative talents, by finding cleaver ways to upcycle and transform recycled materials.  “The challenge is to encourage the community to be creative and innovative and find new purposes for used and recycled materials! Much of what we throw away can find new lives, have new uses, and solve daily problems,” says Save Cayman.  The heart of this challenge will draw attention to how much items we use on a daily basis that can be recycled or even repurposed.  It encourages us to examine our consumer culture and think of innovative solutions to avoid materials ending up in a landfill.  Increasing the lifespan of items by repurposing them helps to offset the amount of items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.  The challenge to upcycle recyclable materials encourages us to find positive solutions and practices to help shift us away from a culture of using single-use disposable items.

Recycling Facts

Every wondered how many times cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles can be recycled?

• Only 14% of plastic packaging can be recycled.
• Aluminum can be recycled infinitely.
• Glass can be recycled infinitely.
• Metals can be recycled infinitely
• Paper can be recycled 5-7 times.
• Plastic can be recycled once or twice.  Plastic is often recycled into a fabric once it reaches a stage of no longer being recyclable. This fabric can then be used to create clothing and shoes.

Take The Challenge

Submission deadline is April 11th.

Submissions will be setup on April 13th for display at the Art Nest Studio, and showcased at the April Artisan Market on April 14th. Winners and prizes will be announced on April 22nd (Earth Day).

Rules:

1- Must be comprised of at least 90% used or recycled materials

2- Must not be larger than 1m2 nor smaller than 3 cm2

3- Maximum $10 limit on new materials to use in the project

4- Must be handmade by the applicant, not purchased or constructed by another party

5- May use inspiration (ex. Pinterest), however must credit sources. Note that points are awarded for creativity

6- Submission must include title, a 3 sentence max summary, applicant name/s, contact details, and list materials used.

7- May be submitted individually or as a group

8- Project must serve new use or purpose

If you have any questions, email savecayman.ky@gmail.com or call 345-922-4252 for more details.

Good luck!