Integrated Waste Exchange

City of Cape Town has a Waste Exchange initiative! Here's a quote from the website:

What is IWEX?




IWEX (Integrated Waste Exchange) is a free online system that enables waste generators and users to exchange waste materials. Operating on the principle that ‘one person’s garbage is another person’s gold,' IWEX facilitates the re-use of waste, thereby conserving energy, minimising resource use and reducing the pressure on Cape Town's landfill space. The service is freely available to anyone who generates or uses waste, including companies, individuals, institutions, schools, NGOs and community groups.

It's super easy - you register and are immediately able to log in, add your waste materials that you have available, and can look right away at waste materials that other individuals, companies or organizations have available.

Let's make use of this initiative to reuse and recycle! Go to www.capetown.gov.za/en/iwex

Sustainble Art Workshop

GREENING YOUR ART
Basic Principles For Eco-Responsible Artmaking

7-8 April 2011 (2 days)
At VANSA Western Cape,
8 Spin Street, Cape Town
FACILITATOR: Janet Botes

COST:
Free to VANSA members
R650 for non-members

This workshop is aimed at artists who have an interest in working more sustainably, with their impact on the environment a consideration and guidance towards the production and execution of their work.

Some of the topics includes:

* Why care and change?
* Working with chemicals.
* Eco-friendly and biodegradable materials.
* Choosing your wood, charcaol, paper and other wood products.
* Recycled/waste art and crafts.
* Recycling in and outside of your studio.

About the facilitator

Janet Botes is a visual and mixed media artist whose work is inspired by nature, the landscape and environmental issues. She has initiated the Ecojunki movement, and gives art classes on an informal basis at White Rabbit Studio, as well as sessions or gatherings that aim at raising awareness for environmental issues, recycling and conservation. In the production of her own artworks, she uses found objects, non-toxic materials and reuses non-organic waste. She has a B Tech qualification in Graphic Design (cum laude), and has exhibited her art in Johannesburg, Pretoria, the Vaal Triangle and Cape Town.

To register or apply please contact Hope on 021 465 7895 or hope@vansa.co.za

More information about VANSA membership

Creative Recycling - get creative!

It's the new "fashion", the new solution, the new right-thing-to-do. Using things that we usually thrown away to create things we can use and appreciate in our homes and as part of our lifestyle.

/// Lampshades, decorative flowers and baskets made from plastic bottles.

/// Cups, containers and flower vases made from empty glass bottles.

/// Sculptures, plant holders, crafts and accessories made from tin cans, milk cartons and plastic.

...and loads more!

Walk through craft shops and markets and think of ways to use plastic containers, glass, milk cartons and other reusable waste. Go to the library and get a book on crafts.

Get creative!

If you don't have the skill or know-how to do these things yourself, get someone to help you! It can be lots of fun and it could even become a weekly get together between family or friends to create new things from waste. The possibilities are endless.

Always remember to adhere to safety precautions and user instructions when working with sharp tools and also when cutting tin - wear gloves and be extremely aware and careful!

Clocks from electronic waste

BLOCKS CLOCKS

The eWaste Dropoff facility in Claremont, down Lansdowne road in Cape Town, processes electronic waste like old computers in a responsible manner. They also make Blocks Clocks which make unique and funky gifts! These Blocks Clocks are 99% recycled material i.e. Perspec = recycled plastic as well as using old PC harddrives and mother boards.

Have a look at their website or contact them at er.ewaste.rescue@gmail.com

We had a small presentation at the Atlantic Seaboard Greendrinks at the Cape Creative Exhibition on 13 July and it proved to be a lot of fun. The aim was to give a basic idea of what Ecojunki stands for, and also offer ways in which you could green your creative practice, whether it be painting, making jewelery, making functional objects or any other creative form. After the talk and powerpoint presentation, tools and materials were given to all the attendees and were given the opportunity to make something from things that we would usually just throw away. This resulted in some really funky and interesting designs such as a belt with a Lion matches box as the buckle, a bird in a nest, a small handbag pouch and a hanging wall organizer!

Here is some basic tips and suggestions in greening your art or creative practice:

• Due to the massive carbon impact of emissions from airplanes, inform buyers outside of Cape Town or South Africa that products are shipped, mule-driven and hand given, and NOT airmailed.
• Do not wrap products in plastic - rather use re-usable, recycled or re-used packages. Make the container part of the product, and something that can be used again, and add value to your product! Also encourage buyers to recycle or re-use all packaging and containers.
• Re-use bubblewrap and when it’s worn out, use it as one of the base materials for a sculpture (along with paper mache you could make amazing things)!
• Don’t always use new wood in your art and for framing, but rather try use driftwood from beaches and off-cuts that are usually thrown away.
• Whenever possible, use packaging from consumer items, found objects, plastic and other materials usually deemed useless and bound to land up on dumps.
• Whenever and where possible use eco-friendly, bio-degradable alternatives to all materials and products:
  - Recycled paper
  - low VOC-inks
  - eco-friendly water based paints and glue
  Many stores and suppliers now offer eco-friendly alternatives, or can easily order. Or make your own!! Google for paint and glue recipes.
• Be careful about how you dispose of your waste water after painting
• Try use the off cuts and ‘waste’ that you produce in another new artwork
• Recycle whenever you can. There are services in Cape Town that collect recyclable waste from your studio
• Instead of buying palettes and mixing bowls, use packaging plastics and jam jars.

…there are SO many ways. Start looking for ways to be more eco-friendly in your art and you’ll be surprised about what you’ll realize!

Come and have fun. Be creative!

Join us at the Atlantic Seaboard Greendrinks on 13 July!

Greendrinks is an informal and comfortable gathering of people who discuss ways of doing things differently in order to tackle environmental issues.

I would love for you to bring some examples of eco-friendly art/craft/design if you have, or otherwise just join in and start creating something right there! If you don't want to participate hands-on on that night, then please join for the open discussion about environmentally conscious creative work.

We start at 18h00 at the Cape Creative Exhibition at 37 Main Road, Green Point.

Change of season

I know I've been very quiet and that it seems like nothing's been happening. But things are actually still on a roll. I'm looking for some eco-enthusiastic writers to contribute to the Ecojunki blog and keep everyone updated on what's green and happening. In the meantime I've got empty milk cartons piling up and I'll soon figure out what I want to create with them in order to recycle or repurpose them.

While on the subject of repurposing - check out Recreate, started by Katie Thompson! Recreate repurposes old suitcases, cans and all kinds of throw-away articles into quirky and pretty decor items like chairs, end tables, candlestick holders and clocks! See some images on www.recreate.za.net and be sure not to miss seeing some of Recreate's very creative furniture and decor items at The Fringe Art Store and Wessel Snyman Creative in Cape Town during May.



The Fringe Arts Store is in the City Hall, Darling Street, Cape Town until 14 May, and Wessel Snyman Creative is at 17 Bree Street in Cape Town, where Recreate will be featured and exhibited from 4-29 May.