Why Recycle?
It's so easy for all of us to throw away our waste without thinking for a moment about the side effects of doing that action. But it's also easy for us to realize that thinking about the future is not that hard, either. All that is needed is a determination to maintain the harmony of our environment, for the sake of our lives and the rest to become in the future. Unity in Action was heavily inspired by this determination from Romo Kris, a Catholic Priest. With a warm invitation, UiA came to visit his studio of amazing artworks that when looked closely, turn out to be made out of recycled bottle caps. He later indulged in a conversation about what drives him to build ATMI Recycle Studio itself, setting a mission to build a better future for the earth, one step at a time. However, Romo Kris' honorable actions do not stop merely from taking care of the environment only; most of the profit he gained from selling his recycled products would later be used to help those who are in need. Without saying, Romo Kris has set an inspirational mission to not only care for the life of our planet, but also for the life of us human beings. And it is a great honor for Unity in Action to be part of that mission.
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Turning Waste into Beauty
Upon entering the studio, Unity in Action was immediately met with a surprising amount of decorations and pieces of furniture that when looked closely, did not bear the usual plastic or wooden material. Instead, there's a unique pattern of colors that may only lead to one conclusion: they were made out of recycled plastics. Or, specifically, recycled bottle caps. With this approach, Unity in Action gladly retrieved gallons of wasted bottle caps to be donated to the studio as a form of their serious contribution to a want for a better world. The studio showcased a gallery of functional items of furniture such as chairs and tables, as well as stunning artworks like crosses, watches, rosary necklaces, medals, and even intricate paintings. Later, we would learn that any product with a "recycle" code indicates that it is recyclable. As was explained by Romo Kris, the process of recycling consists of six steps: washing, sorting, chopping, heating, forming, and finishing.
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Through Hard Work and Determination
As was mentioned before, it may be easy for all of us to ignore what is going on in this world by the simple actions that we make, but the fact is that success can only be achieved through hard work and dedication. After a tour of the studio's impressive gallery, Romo Kris provided hands-on learning about the complexities of the recycling process, including operating the machines involved. Naturally, before beginning any recycling process, it is essential for us to collect the necessary raw materials first. In this case, Romo Kris primarily utilized bottle cap wastes as his main supply. After collecting a sufficient amount, we can start the process by pressing the bottle caps with a hot press. Once melted, the material is shaped into a board-like form using a cold press. From there, we can shape the board into a form of our desire by cutting or using a mold. Now, you may be wondering how long and exhausting it must be to do all these steps, but once you're fully immersed in the process, you'll realize that there's actually very little to complain about, because needless to say, there may be setbacks along the way, but what comes after in the end is far more rewarding than the challenges we may face during the journey.
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Afterwords
As the day was nearing its end, members of UiA who participated in the journey were able to enjoy a thoughtfully prepared lunch as a parting gift. Bearing in mind what they have learned so far - from Romo Kris' inspiring presentation for a want of a better future, to a hands-on approach on how to achieve it - Unity in Action continues to strive forward, making it a day of learning, creativity, and environmental stewardship.