Creative recycling

Repurposing and upcycling ideas

Repurposing is a highly effective way to live green by making something new from something that already exists. There’s a two-pronged benefit: 1) You don’t have to utilize resources to make a new item and 2) You don’t have to dispose of the original item.

Repurposing can run the gamut from simple to complex. The most straightforward way to repurpose is by using something made for a certain purpose, say, a cat litter bucket or coffee can – then using it in a different context as a wastebasket or for storage of anything from spare electronics cables to rock salt to toys.

Creative individuals look at recyclable items as raw materials themselves. They see CDs, old clothes, greeting cards and burned-out lightbulbs not as items to be discarded or donated, but as elements for creating something unique, beautiful — and perhaps even useful. Just because an item is born as one thing doesn’t mean it can’t be creatively repurposed into something else.

Alpine Bank is dedicated to using resources wisely. Learn about the efforts of our Green Team, celebrating 20 years in 2023.

About This Author

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Pete Yang

Pete Yang is a senior vice president for Alpine Bank and the co-chair of Alpine's "Green Team." He's based in Aspen, where he handles commercial and consumer loans, with a particular focus on resort financing. He has a keen interest in protecting Colorado's unmatched mountain environment.

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