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Dad Finds Brilliant Way To Reuse Leftover Crayons From Restaurants And Schools
Bryan Ware, an inventive dad in San Francisco, has come up with a brilliant way to reuse leftover crayons that get thrown out by restaurants and schools – he melts them down and recycles them into new crayons for children at hospitals.
He came up with the idea in 2011 when celebrating his birthday at a restaurant. His waiter had brought his two sons some crayons, and he wondered where the crayons go after they’re done with them. His discovery that they get thrown out led to the Crayon Initiative, which delivers crayons to hospitals throughout California.
More info: thecrayoninitiative.org | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: themighty)
RELATED:
Every year, up to 75,000 pounds of crayons get thrown away by restaurants and schools
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
Creative dad Bryan Ware found a brilliant solution – he melts them down
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
He then pours them into special custom molds
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
He makes 96 new crayons each time he does this
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
These crayons are thicker and easier to grasp for young children and kids with special needs
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
The finished crayons are delivered to hospitals throughout California
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
They’ve already delivered more than 2,000 boxes
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
“If these crayons give them an escape from that hospital room for ten minutes, we did our job,” said Bryan Ware
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
Image credits: The Crayon Initiative
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What do you think ?
JustėKažukauskaitė 10 years ago
Idea is briliant, but I don't understand why restaurants and schools throw crayons away? They seems to be good enough to use them
RhoEdmunds 10 years ago
At the restaurants, its a health thing. As for the schools, most of the crayons at the end of the year are destroyed, so this is a great way to get that last bit out of them. :-)
Load More Replies...
JulianaMota 10 years ago
Well done! Not only for these kids but also for the environment, we do waste to much material and we can recycle it.
SilvijaSavels 10 years ago
Excellent way to recycle for a good cause - I`m sure they bring joy to the children.
BeckySauer 10 years ago
Brilliant recycling! Just wonder why crayons aren't made into a squared shape? Less rolling off tables=less breakage and easier containment of crayons.
PauletteRawlins 10 years ago
They are made in Triangles...no trouble with rolling and easier to hold than squares!
Load More Replies...
DebbRooken-Smith 10 years ago
It's a great idea. I made mine into little heart shaped multi coloured ones.
MaragitadoManuela 10 years ago
Brilliant idea! People like Bryan Ware make the world a better place!
ArnicaKhaton 10 years ago
I think the heat kills off any bacteria and viruses
Load More Replies...
Catherine Faith Abdul 8 years ago
Where did he bought that crayon mold maker? And by the way I was inspired by this.
Stephani Mcintosh 8 years ago
This is so cool!! How would i donate crayons? I work at a diner and we throw them out. I can also get the crayons at the end of the school year. Plz pm me info.
Liz Mosby 9 years ago
Super neat idea. I can't even count the times my son, niece, nephew and other kids I've taken to eat just took the crayons out, used them for maybe one minute and forgot about them as soon as the waiter comes around. I never even thought about the amount of crayons wasted due to this. And I know that these recycled crayons make MANY children smile and I know it must make their day or stay at the hospital so much better. You never know exactly how MUCH a thing like a pack of crayons helps take the child's and parents mind off of their situation for a bit. I thank these ppl for all they do, this world would be c**p without these types of amazing and thoughtful people!!
RozEdelberg 10 years ago
Amazing creative and wonderful Dad... hope his business grows and grows.... all over this country !!!
LeahG 10 years ago
It sounds like a great idea , but isn't the cost of melting them and repackaging them more costly than buying from new?
PauletteRawlins 10 years ago
It might be but in this throw away world we have to get beyond that thought. We can't always just think about the cost when reuse of materials saves waste and the environment.
Load More Replies...
JoanneSutton 10 years ago
I've done something similar. Melt the crayons in christmas cookie molds and make home crafted gift ornaments.
KristenHirscht 10 years ago
Does anyone know who I can contact to do something like this in Oregon? My son's elementary school tossed hundreds of crayons at the end of the year last year. This would be fantastic!
BlessedGertruna 10 years ago
i would like to do that however am in uganda, Africa how can I get the machine that shapes them?
DavidSinuk 10 years ago
This sounds pretty cool, reminds me of a guy that was creative with lemons. Something about you could put a message on a lemon, at a website called www.lemonadesmiles.com, and the idea is you can send a positive message and make their day.
SuzanneBarnes 10 years ago
FANTASTIC idea! Good going-- anything that helps distract little kids from pain or fear or homesickness is a wonderful thing.
Jeannette-LeeAguilar 10 years ago
It would be nice if there was a place we can send him our left over crayons to keep this cycle going
Jane Walsh 2 years ago
melt all the different colors together to make a rainbow crayon
Load More Replies...
JonathanYip 10 years ago
those recycled crayons look far more appealing than paper-wrapped crayons labeled with crayola…
DariaB 10 years ago
I find this amazing, but I'm a little confused... I mean, why would restaurants use crayons in the first place? o_O
ArnicaKhaton 10 years ago
Some restaurants have a little colouring books and crayons for at tables so kids can colour while they wait. And most of the crayons are used once the get thown away
Load More Replies...
KatherineFarley 10 years ago
SCARCE in Glen Ellyn Illinois has been doing this for a while. Check it out! http://scarceecoed.org/
ChrisCooper 10 years ago
Good for him on puttong these to use. I wonder What is the process to collect the crayons? Does he drive around town all week collecting crayons deom restarurants and schools? Much info is missing here.
CourtniWittan 10 years ago
I feel so terrible for feeling jealous of not doing the same thing. I"m happy that someone else had the brilliance in themselves to do this.
MeganAnderson 10 years ago
My mother and I melt them down and use molds to make rainbow crayons, though this is an excellent use as well!
BrianZhong 10 years ago
All those crayons in the first picture look perfectly new, so why would people throw those away? if they have a huge excess of crayons, can't they just stop buying so much to begin with?
MarjorieFabian 10 years ago
Great idea! Generous action by Mr. Ware! There is so much waste in America. It is so good to see someone reusing a product again like he is doing. Thank you, Bryan Ware!
VictoriaJolley 10 years ago
That is sweet for someone to care so much, i bet he could make a difference in the world
AnantaOuo 10 years ago
I am not American. Please tell me why restaurants have so many Crayons? I don't understand what they do with them?
StephaniePajonas 10 years ago
They have crayons and fun paper for kids when they come to the restaurant, so the kids are occupied while waiting for food.
Load More Replies...
KarleenLutter 10 years ago
I always take my grandgirls and hold on to them until I got 12 or so. Then I give them to the Samali boys down the street.
YunOsukā 10 years ago
sooo you're saying... if i found out how to recycle old juice boxes or like old wrappers and turned them into new wrappers and juiceboxes.. i will get praised? does this even make sense?? he literally took perfectly still usable crayons and melted them down to make new ones... makes no sense really.
DianaTeahan 10 years ago
Actually jerk, he made them into a more ergonomic shape for children with conditions that prohibit them from being able to grip small objects so they are able to enjoy coloring or drawing. Children with or without medical conditions are still developing fine motor skills which is why there are "fat" crayons made for easier gripping. How about invoking common sense, if you possess any, before making such a careless statement.
Load More Replies...
LynneElliott 10 years ago
What a great idea! Maybe he can sell them back to the restaurants and schools who used them first and then give some to the poorer schools and childrens centres.
JustėKažukauskaitė 10 years ago
Idea is briliant, but I don't understand why restaurants and schools throw crayons away? They seems to be good enough to use them
RhoEdmunds 10 years ago
At the restaurants, its a health thing. As for the schools, most of the crayons at the end of the year are destroyed, so this is a great way to get that last bit out of them. :-)
Load More Replies... JulianaMota 10 years ago
Well done! Not only for these kids but also for the environment, we do waste to much material and we can recycle it.
SilvijaSavels 10 years ago
Excellent way to recycle for a good cause - I`m sure they bring joy to the children.
BeckySauer 10 years ago
Brilliant recycling! Just wonder why crayons aren't made into a squared shape? Less rolling off tables=less breakage and easier containment of crayons.
PauletteRawlins 10 years ago
They are made in Triangles...no trouble with rolling and easier to hold than squares!
Load More Replies... DebbRooken-Smith 10 years ago
It's a great idea. I made mine into little heart shaped multi coloured ones.
MaragitadoManuela 10 years ago
Brilliant idea! People like Bryan Ware make the world a better place!
ArnicaKhaton 10 years ago
I think the heat kills off any bacteria and viruses
Load More Replies... Catherine Faith Abdul 8 years ago
Where did he bought that crayon mold maker? And by the way I was inspired by this.
Stephani Mcintosh 8 years ago
This is so cool!! How would i donate crayons? I work at a diner and we throw them out. I can also get the crayons at the end of the school year. Plz pm me info.
Liz Mosby 9 years ago
Super neat idea. I can't even count the times my son, niece, nephew and other kids I've taken to eat just took the crayons out, used them for maybe one minute and forgot about them as soon as the waiter comes around. I never even thought about the amount of crayons wasted due to this. And I know that these recycled crayons make MANY children smile and I know it must make their day or stay at the hospital so much better. You never know exactly how MUCH a thing like a pack of crayons helps take the child's and parents mind off of their situation for a bit. I thank these ppl for all they do, this world would be c**p without these types of amazing and thoughtful people!!
RozEdelberg 10 years ago
Amazing creative and wonderful Dad... hope his business grows and grows.... all over this country !!!
LeahG 10 years ago
It sounds like a great idea , but isn't the cost of melting them and repackaging them more costly than buying from new?
PauletteRawlins 10 years ago
It might be but in this throw away world we have to get beyond that thought. We can't always just think about the cost when reuse of materials saves waste and the environment.
Load More Replies... JoanneSutton 10 years ago
I've done something similar. Melt the crayons in christmas cookie molds and make home crafted gift ornaments.
KristenHirscht 10 years ago
Does anyone know who I can contact to do something like this in Oregon? My son's elementary school tossed hundreds of crayons at the end of the year last year. This would be fantastic!
BlessedGertruna 10 years ago
i would like to do that however am in uganda, Africa how can I get the machine that shapes them?
DavidSinuk 10 years ago
This sounds pretty cool, reminds me of a guy that was creative with lemons. Something about you could put a message on a lemon, at a website called www.lemonadesmiles.com, and the idea is you can send a positive message and make their day.
SuzanneBarnes 10 years ago
FANTASTIC idea! Good going-- anything that helps distract little kids from pain or fear or homesickness is a wonderful thing.
Jeannette-LeeAguilar 10 years ago
It would be nice if there was a place we can send him our left over crayons to keep this cycle going
Jane Walsh 2 years ago
melt all the different colors together to make a rainbow crayon
Load More Replies... JonathanYip 10 years ago
those recycled crayons look far more appealing than paper-wrapped crayons labeled with crayola…
DariaB 10 years ago
I find this amazing, but I'm a little confused... I mean, why would restaurants use crayons in the first place? o_O
ArnicaKhaton 10 years ago
Some restaurants have a little colouring books and crayons for at tables so kids can colour while they wait. And most of the crayons are used once the get thown away
Load More Replies... KatherineFarley 10 years ago
SCARCE in Glen Ellyn Illinois has been doing this for a while. Check it out! http://scarceecoed.org/
ChrisCooper 10 years ago
Good for him on puttong these to use. I wonder What is the process to collect the crayons? Does he drive around town all week collecting crayons deom restarurants and schools? Much info is missing here.
CourtniWittan 10 years ago
I feel so terrible for feeling jealous of not doing the same thing. I"m happy that someone else had the brilliance in themselves to do this.
MeganAnderson 10 years ago
My mother and I melt them down and use molds to make rainbow crayons, though this is an excellent use as well!
BrianZhong 10 years ago
All those crayons in the first picture look perfectly new, so why would people throw those away? if they have a huge excess of crayons, can't they just stop buying so much to begin with?
MarjorieFabian 10 years ago
Great idea! Generous action by Mr. Ware! There is so much waste in America. It is so good to see someone reusing a product again like he is doing. Thank you, Bryan Ware!
VictoriaJolley 10 years ago
That is sweet for someone to care so much, i bet he could make a difference in the world
AnantaOuo 10 years ago
I am not American. Please tell me why restaurants have so many Crayons? I don't understand what they do with them?
StephaniePajonas 10 years ago
They have crayons and fun paper for kids when they come to the restaurant, so the kids are occupied while waiting for food.
Load More Replies... KarleenLutter 10 years ago
I always take my grandgirls and hold on to them until I got 12 or so. Then I give them to the Samali boys down the street.
YunOsukā 10 years ago
sooo you're saying... if i found out how to recycle old juice boxes or like old wrappers and turned them into new wrappers and juiceboxes.. i will get praised? does this even make sense?? he literally took perfectly still usable crayons and melted them down to make new ones... makes no sense really.
DianaTeahan 10 years ago
Actually jerk, he made them into a more ergonomic shape for children with conditions that prohibit them from being able to grip small objects so they are able to enjoy coloring or drawing. Children with or without medical conditions are still developing fine motor skills which is why there are "fat" crayons made for easier gripping. How about invoking common sense, if you possess any, before making such a careless statement.
Load More Replies... LynneElliott 10 years ago
What a great idea! Maybe he can sell them back to the restaurants and schools who used them first and then give some to the poorer schools and childrens centres.
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