While enviros have a rep for hoarding all manner of crap for fugly craft projects, wine corks are one of those items that even avowedly non-enviros tend to collect in jars or other clear containers, for reasons that remain somewhat unclear to me (perhaps as a reminder of good times had while slightly tipsy?).
So for all of you with a cork stash that’s getting too large, here’s a roundup of eco ways to dispose of said stash:
1. Compost or mulch them. Umbra of Grist points out that traditional cork’s “an organic material, aka oak-tree bark, and could take the place of bark mulch if you use it — or any brown, carbonaceous material in your compost pile.”
* Pro: Free.
* Con: Requires a compost pile, green bin, or garden — meaning this option’s a no-go for most apartment dwellers. Doesn’t work for plastic corks.
2. Send them in to get recycled into tiles. I found out via Karina at Tiny Choices that a company called Yemm & Hart wants your corks. The plan’s to turn said corks into eco-friendly tiles, which will hopefully sell, allowing Y&H to turn this corky scheme into a profitable business, which will hopefully eventually allow Y&H to compensate cork-senders. Send ‘em to Wine Cork Recycling, Yemm & Hart Ltd, 610 S. Chamber Dr., Fredericktown, MO 63645.
* Pro: Comfort knowing your corks’ll get a new life as good looking, eco tiles.
* Con: Must pay for postage. Incurs travel miles (and resulting CO2 emissions). Doesn’t work for plastic corks.
3. Send them in to get recycled into “cool products.” TerraCycle’s now accepting wine corks — both natural and synthetic — which the company will turn “into cool products that will be available nationally at major retailers.” If you’ve got fewer than 100 corks, all you have to do is mail them in to TerraCycle, ATTN: Cork Brigade, 121 New York Ave., Trenton, NJ 08638.
* Pro: Both plastic and traditional corks are accepted. TerraCycle’s a cool company.
* Con: Must pay for postage. Incurs travel miles (and resulting CO2 emissions). Some of TerrCycle’s “cool products” are actually kinda fugly.
4. Make Korknisses — and a GI Joe raft. Korknisses appear to be little decorative cork people, perfect as holiday decorations and such. I found out them because my sister knit some cute ones — which inspired her husband to create a lil cork raft — which was discovered to float quite well in a bathtub, keeping the korknisses safe and dry.
* Pro: Process may turn into fun, spontaneous bonding time between two people. End product is cute.
* Con: Requires knitting skills and investment in a glue gun. Playing with korknisses and raft could get boring over time for intelligent adults.
5. Make other crafty stuff. Trivets are a popular corky project — my sis made one of those too (right) — but you can find all sorts of ideas for DIY projects incorporating wine corks just by a lil googling.
* Pro: Crafting is fun. Reuse is satisfying for the eco-soul.
* Con: Resulting piece has high probability of being eco-fugly. Even Umbra of Grist warns against the “infamous hideous trivet.”
Last but not least: Consider opting for wines stopped with traditional corks whenever possible. After all, plastics are forever — and one has time to play with only so many kornisses –
Images top to bottom: jeffsmallwood, via TerraCycle, via yoelknits
[crossposted on BlogHer]
Update, 4/14/09: Upcycling my wine corks
great ideas. i especially like the one about tiles. yes, the travelling portion will incure CO2 but it will support new innovative businesses that have developed ways to reuse materials, which is great. i was watching plant green the other day and they had this company that recycles cardboard into moving boxes. very cool. who knows, maybe someday someone will turn corks in cutting boards or planters.
Comment by ShopLittleGifts — July 7, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
A friend of mine collects them to refill the fenders of their sailing boat.
Comment by avs — July 7, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
Oh, no, I have an infamous trivet! At least it is covered up by a plate when actually in use. And when it falls apart, I’ll have the materials for a whole army of korknisse. :)
Comment by yoel — July 8, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
I think I’d opt for the compost/mulch idea. The other crafts seem a little desperate to me… do you really need a cork trivet or doll or any of the other cork “stuff” they could be turned into? And if not, then the addition of glue or whatever else is needed to keep the projects together will probably render the corks less than eco-friendly for purposes of compost later on down the road. Just my two cents. Unless someone comes up with an honestly useful product for these corks, I’ll just return them to the earth where they came from.
I do understand that many apartment dwellers who live in cities without commercial composting can’t do that. And I also realize composting doesn’t address plastic corks, which I’m trying very hard to avoid.
Comment by Beth Terry — July 8, 2008 @ 7:13 pm