Though I miss the World Cup games (and wish they were held every year), I surely do not miss the incessant drone of thousands of vuvuzelas coming through my TV speakers. I am happy to report, though, that vuvuzelas are being put to good reuse after two advertising firms in South Africa started a vuvuzela recycling contest, WoZela!

The contest, whose tagline was, "make a difference, not just a noise," garnered more than 100 entries of creative ways to turn the plastic noisemakers into useful items. Entries included tables, light fixtures, planters, a cocktail shaker even a plant irrigator. Some of the submissions came in the form of videos and include the "vuvu gramophone" and a trumpet. Needless to say, there were some very innovative creations.

Contest organizers chose the hoop earrings design, submitted by Megan Bernstein of Cape Town, as the winner. Her design uses circular cross-sections of the horn (see photo).

This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2010.