Waste pollution is a growing environmental concern, driven by the increasing volume of unmanaged solid waste. Public awareness and adoption of the 5R principles—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle—remain limited, leading to the disposal of materials with latent value. Sampah to Something (S2S) is a community‑centred initiative that transforms discarded materials (e.g., plastics, paper, glass) into durable, aesthetically appealing, and marketable items, often using epoxy resin as a binder. This paper describes the project’s design management, prototyping workflow, and early user feedback. We report on qualitative responses from students, vendors, and tourists in Kota Kinabalu, indicating strong acceptance of aesthetics, affordability, and alignment with sustainability values. We also discuss limitations (e.g., variability in source material), operational considerations (e.g., tools, safety), and opportunities for scaling through partnerships, education, and simple impact tracking. S2S demonstrates how upcycling can support environmental stewardship while creating economic value for local communities.