Reuse Artist Gifts 'Betty Bottletop' Sea Turtle Sculpture to Restaurant in Brunei

See the full story in The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/06/07/betty-bottletop-highlights-importance-of-recycling-in-brunei

"Tobias Tahal, who is a carpenter and a skilled jewelry designer, put his skills to good use, making use of the discards that had washed up along the shores of Panaga. The art piece, which highlights the importance of recycling, took two months to complete. A total of 749 bottle caps, 16 flip flops, and 10 plastic bottles were used to create 'Betty Bottletop.' "

Tabal collected trash from the beach to create the sculpture. He presented it Ricardo's Catering for display. The cafe owner "hopes it will inspire visitors to do more with items collected from beaches. 'It also helps teach the younger kids about recycling, reusing and avoiding wastage,' she said."

Cap-tivating Whistles

People who know me well know that I have a minor obsession with, and modest hoard of, metal bottle caps. I just can't toss them into the trash, or even the recycling bin. I love the different designs and colors that can are printed on them, and their size and composition mean they can be easily repurposed into lots of things. I've used them to decorate bird houses and make magnets. I've glued them together and attached floral wire to make Christmas tree ornaments. When I make Christmas tree ornaments out of old painted light bulbs, I sometime use them for "hats" on the snowmen, penguins, Santas, etc. that I paint. I've used them as mini paint pots when my kids are making art and need just a little bit of paint from a big jug o' paint. They make great mosaic fodder. They can be made into beads and other jewelry. They can adorn belts. I've even seen them turned into cool fishing lures. And now that spring has sprung, and I'm outside listening to my glass wind chimes, I'm itching to try making some bottle cap wind chimes.

But I would never have thought of the application I just came across, and it may be just about the coolest bottle cap reuse yet. Loran Scruggs uses bottle caps and pieces from old tins to make working whistles. Check out her Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BottleCapWhistles. The use of the caps for the whistle sides shows off the artwork on them. I'm delighted to see some of the same caps I've saved because of the unique animals or other graphics used in her whistles. My kids would recognize them as matching some of our Christmas tree ornaments. She even has a whistle with one of my favorite caps--an owl from Hitachino Nest Beer--as her profile image. I have bought that beer just to get more of those caps (it's not bad beer, but the cap is the real draw for me). Now I desperately want some of her whistles for me and the kiddos. If I ever decide to unload some of my cap hoard, I may have to see if she would accept them. Reuse, bottle caps, and kid friendly items--this makes me smile.

Loran's other items include toys and art made from caps, tins (like old Altoid tins), and cans. Very creative!

Affordable Housing and a Reuse Revolutionary: Dan Phillips

If you haven't heard of Dan Phillips and his Phoenix Commotion project, please take a few minutes to check out his web site and watch the videos there--the one from the Texas Country Reporter is really inspiring. Dan teaches and assists "the working poor" of Huntsville, TX to build their own simple homes out of reused materials which might otherwise hit the landfill, inspiring hope, independence, empowerment and respect for the environment. The homes created from the materials at hand are really remarkable--you won't find your cookie-cutter, mega-box subdivision houses here. These homes are unique, filled with the character of the owner-builders and the areas in which they live. They are both whimsical and practical. Check out the "Project Photos" page and you'll see what I mean. If you look at the "interior" pictures, you'll see a mosaic of--be still my heart--metal bottle caps, a material which has always been a source of personal fascination for me. All sorts of fascinating materials are used in these homes; picture frame corners, natural logs, relish dishes, wine corks, you name it--if someone is throwing it away, Dan Phillips can probably find a use for it in the construction of a new home.

Dan Phillips and the folks who take him up on the opportunity to build and own their own homes are truly inspirational. This is a model that I would love to see replicated across the country, for the benefit of our people, our communities and our environment.