The International WeLoveU Foundation welcomed Global Recycling Day differently this year. To inspire people to reduce waste creatively, WeLoveU launched its first-ever social media Upcycling Challenge on March 18 — Global Recycling Day! The creative contest wrapped up on Earth Day, April 22, 2021, with a special webinar dubbed #WeLoveUpcycling webinar.

The virtual event began at 7 p.m. ET. More than 200 viewers tuned in to celebrate Earth Day with WeLoveU and guest speaker Katrina Bussiere-Venhuizen of ecomaine. Then, the webinar ended by announcing the winners of the Upcycling Challenge.

WeLoveU Is a Global Recycling Hero

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During the host’s opening remarks, she announced that the WeLoveU Foundation was recently recognized as one of the ten #RecyclingHeroes of Global Recycling Day by the Global Recycling Foundation. It was because of the Foundation’s dedication to recycling.

A Fun Approach to Learning About Recycling

Afterward, Brynn introduced the webinar’s special guest speaker, Katrina Bussiere-Venhuizen. She is the senior environmental educator ecomaine and has 13 years of experience in various ecological educator roles. She is responsible for designing curricula, on-site tour programs, and all other education and outreach programming that facilitates engaged waste reduction among residents, schools, and businesses in ecomaine’s 70+ member communities.

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The viewers, thoroughly engaged, learned the ins and outs of recycling through Katrina’s exciting presentation. She ended her portion of the #WeLoveUpcycling webinar by playing ecomaine’s very own Wicked Smaht Recycler game with the audience. The game sharpens and tests the player’s recycling and waste handling skills. Viewers at home learned what items need to be recycled, composted, or thrown away!

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After the presentation, it was the time everyone was waiting for: the highly anticipated announcement of the Upcycling Challenge winners! Throughout the Upcycling Challenge, the WeLoveU Foundation received numerous submissions from people across the nation and internationally. Participants posted their unique ideas, reusing all sorts of materials to give them new life and keep them out of the landfills. Check out the submissions by visiting WeLoveU’s Instagram.  

The Winners of the Upcycling Challenge

From all the submissions, five participants won prizes for their resourceful upcycling creations! Each winner received a $100 gift card.

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Birgit upcycled children’s clothing that was too small to be worn and turned it into updated, wearable clothing. She made a few t-shirts into dresses, craftily hid some stains by adding homemade patches, and resized and decorated an oversized shirt.

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Aimee made a fountain planter with old odds and ends. The fountain itself is a cat water fountain that her cat didn’t use, an unused flower pot, an old bucket, and other scraps and bits from the yard.

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Francia made a rug out of old bedsheets and a sack of rice. She cut up the bed sheet into strips and wove them into the rice sack.

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Melanie made a pencil holder and coaster set from scrap wood from the dumpster. She used a university laser cutter to cut the design into the wood and then assembled it with tacky glue.  

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Tony built a greenhouse with salvaged lumber, glass windows, and doors. He used poly plastic sheeting leftover from a construction site to fill in gaps and cover the roof.