![upcycle](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r1.jpg)
Do you have any useless things around the house? Maybe you can find a way to use them again. Do you like DIY? Do you like to make things or do arts and crafts? Maybe you can try upcycling. Upcycling is a way to make useless things useful again.
![boots](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r2.jpg)
Look at these pictures. Do you know what useless thing is in each picture? Do you know what useless thing was upcycled?
![candle holder](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r3.jpg)
Old bottles can be useful. Some people put candles inside them. Some people hang bottles or jars from the ceiling. They put lightbulbs inside to change them into lights for a room. Old bottles can be repurposed into something new and beautiful. I use an old bottle as a candle holder.
![hooks](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r4.jpg)
Old forks and spoons can be useful, too. The original purpose of a fork is to use it for eating. When you bend them, you can use them as hooks. You can also bend them to make bracelets. You can use your new hooks to hang many things.
![suitcase table](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r5.jpg)
Old suitcases can make cool tables. You can even put things inside your table. You can use boxes to make tables and stools. You can make them any size or shape that you like. This little chair was made out of old milk cartons.
![garbage landfill](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r6.jpg)
What about old clothes? We throw away a lot of clothes every year. These textiles end up in a landfill. A landfill is a place where we put our garbage. Sometimes we call it a garbage island. It looks like a small island, but it is full of garbage.
![____](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r7.jpg)
Textiles can be upcycled into something new. Look at this backpack. It was made using an old shirt.
![____](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r8.jpg)
This dress was made from another dress.
![____](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r9.jpg)
These shorts were made from old curtains. All these items were made using textiles that people threw away.
![old clothes](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r10.jpg)
When a piece of clothing is too old to be upcycled, it can still be useful. You can use it as a rag for cleaning. You can cut the material into smaller pieces for crafts, or to make string. There are so many uses for old clothes. I cut up old t-shirts to make cleaning rags. It is easy to make, and very useful.
![____](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r11.jpg)
Plastic containers are often thrown away after they're used. You can upcycle them into many things. This pen holder was made from an old container.
![____](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r12.jpg)
When the container is empty, you can clean and decorate it. Containers can be reused to store other items. I use this container to store paper clips.
![____](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/110a/unit01/1-2r13.jpg)
There are so many ways to upcycle old or useless things. What else can you reuse to make something new?