A group of local residents recently attended an upcycling workshop in Athlone, as part of Westmeath County Council’s aim to raise awareness of waste prevention.
Dave Conboy from Revived & Retro led the workshop, sharing his passion for breathing new life into discarded items. His display included a myriad of planter boxes and candle holders made from old pallets, discarded slates transformed into chic decorations, and disused vinyl records transformed into retro clocks.
Speaking at the event, Mr Conboy said: “I hope that my workshop will inspire, motivate, and encourage people to make upcycling a regular part of their lifestyle. Getting people to think about waste and surplus materials and seeing the potential opportunities within them will encourage people to act in a more sustainable way.
“Through our workshops we encourage participants to think about resources available within their local community; we place emphasis on what people consider to be waste and then show them new and innovative ways of upcycling them into a new and valued product.”
A carpenter by trade, Mr Conboy has his own business, Revived & Retro, and samples of his work can be viewed online at revivedandretro.ie or at his shop in Terryglass, Co Tipperary.
Ruth Maxwell of the council’s environment department said the workshop was part of an environmental awareness programme aimed at raising awareness on waste prevention.
“Reuse of old and unwanted items is an excellent way of giving an old item new life and value while also preventing waste going to landfill,” she said.
Plans for a nationwide Reuse Month during October are ongoing at present.
