Rural Extension with Africa's Poor » Reusing Local Resources http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap practical, accessible technology for the rural poor Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:41:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Reusing Local Resources http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=171 http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=171#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:27:26 +0000 admin http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=171 Picture39During the Kisumu Show in 2009 REAP won the cup for the Best Stand in Environmental Management.  This was awarded to us in part because of our display on ways of managing and using waste.

Picture43The picture on the right shows a typical scene along many road verges.  Rubbish is becoming a problem, that we can help to alleviate by making use of some of it.

We have collected some pictures which show some of the many ways that people can make use of some of the waste products.

Picture40

]]> http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?feed=rss2&p=171 0 Reusing Plastic Bottles http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=173 http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=173#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:35:06 +0000 admin http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=173 There are countless ways of reusing plastic bottles. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

A bottle with the bottom cut off is very useful for helping get water to the roots of newly planted trees. The water is not wasted on the surface and getting the water lower in the soil encourages good root growth. Many bottles are artistically shaped so the bottom can make an attractive bowl. How about this use of bottles for a practical hanging vegetable garden? Ultra violet light kills bacteria and this is used in solar distillation – SODIS – where the water is put out in the sunlight in plastic bottles for at least six hours to make it safer for drinking The bottle on the left has been used as a safety measure to stop people hurting themselves on a stake. The tippy tap enables families to have hand washing water easily and economically available. There are various designs of the basic idea. Bottles can be cut in many ways for toys, teaching aids and other useful containers at home and in schools, such as these ideas from Footsteps Larger plastic containers such as those used for oil also have many uses like this tippy tap. Bottles can be cut in many ways for toys, teaching aids and other useful containers at home and in schools, such as these ideas from Footsteps They can also be used to redirect water as on this rainwater gutter, making it easier to make use of the water. Children make ingenious toys out of them. Creative uses including this fly trap for putting on top of a vent Bottles can be used in many ways as funnels Bottles can be used in many ways for redirecting water Creatively cut bottles have many uses such as for this bird feeder at a tourist site A small hole in the bottom of a bottle enables the bottle to hold water for washing at home and outside the latrine Hand Washing Many containers including bottles can be cut and used in developing a plant nursery ]]> http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?feed=rss2&p=173 0 Reusing Plastic Bags http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=175 http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=175#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:36:53 +0000 admin http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=175 Plastic bags litter both towns and countryside but there are also many uses for them. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

These bags are made by crocheting strips cut from supermarket bags. Weaving techniques are used to make hats or floor mats from supermarket bags as with this idea from Footsteps. Even the birds have learnt to make use of them as in this Hammercop nest! Plastic bags of many types can be used in tree and plant nurseries, not just the commercial black plastic ones. These crisp packets make a very appropriate nursery: Young boys have developed the art of making footballs out of plastic bags. This is how many of the African stars started and developed their football skills Clothesline Strips of plastic from plastic bags or packaging have proved to make very good washable mattresses Strips of plastic bags can be wound in strong ropes for many domestic uses including tying up animals and making a washing line Washable Mattress

]]> http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?feed=rss2&p=175 0 Reusing Bottle Tops http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=178 http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=178#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:39:36 +0000 admin http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=178 Bottle tops from soda or beer bottles have many uses, both practical and decorative. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Bottle tops have also been used for many crafts such as these decorative candle sticks on sale in a craft shop. Bicycle Mobile Bottle tops are abundant outside bars and restaurants. A very effective doormat or boot scraper can be made by nailing bottle tops onto a board. REAP teaches how to make a simple tool for removing scales from fish can be made by nailing bottle tops to a wooden paddle. Bicycle Pin An attractive box Musicians and singers have a number of ways of using bottle tops to make percussion instruments to enhance the rhythm And this curtain is another idea from Footsteps. This simple mould for making candles from beeswax makes use of bottle tops in a very simple and practical way

]]> http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?feed=rss2&p=178 0 Reusing Tyres http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=181 http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=181#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:40:59 +0000 admin http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?p=181 Tyres will take a very long time to decompose but these also have a number of uses. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Old tyres make very strong sandals that are good for muddy and dusty areas, but have also now got an upmarket clientele in tourist shops Here are a couple of ideas from a ‘Child-to-Child’ teaching resource Strips of tyre are often used by carpenters for upholstering chairs and beds A strip of tyre makes a practical doormat Children also find many uses for tyres such as this hoop as illustrated in Footsteps Planter An old tractor tyre is cut to make a feeding trough for sheep or other animals Children also find many uses for tyres such as this hoop as illustrated in Footsteps Strips of tyre of inner tube can be used for tying loads on the roof rack or a bicycle The rubber of the inner tube has many uses such as making a catapult Children's Play Tunnel ]]> http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/?feed=rss2&p=181 0