UPCYCLING vs. RECYCLING: WHICH IS MORE SUSTAINABLE?


By Best Precious

 We all wish to play our role in reducing waste and rescuing the environment, yet when it comes to recycling or upcycling, which of them actually has a greater impact?

Let’s get it cleared in the open in simple words.

Recycling: Breaking Down Things to Start Over

You’re aware of the fact that we toss plastic containers, paper, and glass in the recycling basket, expecting they will turn into something new. That’s the general idea with recycling, essentially killing them off and purifying them into different materials.

It takes a substantial amount of water and energy just to recycle things. And products like plastic disintegrate from each recycling, so they’ll never last forever.
The Pros of Recycling
✔ Saves natural resources
✔ Prevents a lot of waste from going into landfills
✔ Reduces the need for fresh materials

The Downside to Recycling
✖ Can be energy intensive
✖ Not everything can be recycled after all (unfortunate as it is)
✖ Some products (plastic, e.g.) weaken every time they are recycled

Upcycling: Making Do with What You’ve Got
Upcycling, however, is slightly different. It does not destroy things but reuses the old to make it useful again with little energy. It is like tearing a pair of jeans into shreds and sewing them together into a bag or making pots out of shattered glass jars. The material is not different, but it is being reused into something new and useful.

The Pros of Upcycling
✔ It extends the life of materials.
✔ It does not require extra energy or water.
✔ It encourages creativity.

The Challenges of Upcycling
✖ It takes a little creativity and effort
✖ Not everything can be easily upcycled
Both methods help the environment, but upcycling is generally more eco-friendly because it takes fewer resources and creates less waste.

Location: Ekenhuan Rd, Benin City, Edo, Nigeria

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