A hole punch and scissors are the tools of the trade for Dr. Recycle.
Oliver Samonte, aka Dr. Recycle, is set to celebrate Environment Week by hosting Recyclethon workshops at River Market on Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday, June 7 from 1 to 6 p.m. During that time, he’ll help kids aged three and up make all sorts of creatures out of empty milk jugs, yogurt cups and paper cups – a talent he picked up as a child.
“I grew up in the Philippines. There was a toy store – we would only go there to get ideas,” he said. “We never bought anything. We never had the money.”
Samonte, who moved to Canada in 1991, began hosting Junkology workshops years ago, where he teaches kids how to make creations out of recyclables like milk jugs.
“I started Junkology the year before my son was born. I had some problems with my joints so I could not do my regular job for about two years,” he recalls. “Before I knew it, I was asked to visit the schools and libraries, particularly libraries because I ended up writing books on junkology.”
Samonte is currently working on a fourth book – Junk to Joy.
In addition to hosting workshops, Samonte has held several recyclethons to raise funds for children’s hospitals. All donations made at the upcoming event at River Market will be donated to B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Families attending the event at River Market are encouraged to bring empty four-litre milk jugs so they can create a creature.
“I show kids how to do it,” said the New West resident. “The most popular ones are the whale, the shark and the duck.”
Samonte draws the lines on the milk jugs and kids can cut it out to create their shape – or kids can follow his example and do it themselves if they prefer.
“I still bring yogurt containers, I still bring paper cups so the kids can still do something. If they show up without a milk jug, they can still do something,” he said. “I probably have about 30 projects out of yogurt. The most popular one is a propeller that can actually fly. The kids love it because it flies very well. It’s very simple.”
Turtles, butterflies with wings that flutter, caterpillars and dinosaurs are among the creations that can be made with paper cups and yogurt containers.
“I don’t use glue in junkology – no glue allowed,” Samonte said. “All the projects that I show are put together with a hole punch and scissors. Those are my tools of trade.”
While he’s got dozens of projects in his junkology repertoire, Samonte is always trying to come up with new designs because he makes repeat visits to some schools and after-school programs and kids are excited to learn something new.
“I have been doing it for 20 years, and when I show it to the kids they think it’s cool,” he said. “I think kids have missed out on having a chance to do something with their hands and design their own things.”
For more information visit www.junkology.com.
