Trash to Art contest challenges local student to rethink waste

in A&E/Featured/Headline

One person’s trash is another person’s art. RethinkWaste is inviting local elementary school students in the 3rd through 5th grades to participate in its annual Trash to Art contest.

The contest promotes creating art by using materials that are otherwise disposed of or recycled. Student artwork must be composed of 90 percent trash or recyclables collected from home, school and everyday life.

In the past, projects have come in the forms of sculptures, collages, murals, and more. The only restrictions to your creativity: art pieces should not exceed 3 feet by 3 feet.

Art projects accompanied by a submission form must be turned in by noon on Friday, March 27 at the Shoreway Environmental Center at 333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos. For more information on

Submissions can fall into two categories: the Individual or Class. Prizes of $150, $100, and $50 gift cards will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place participants of the individual category respectively. The winner of the class category will receive a field trip outing, and the 2nd place class will get a pizza party.

Winning art pieces will be announced early April, and winners will be recognized at a celebration on Tuesday, April 21 at 4 pm in the San Carlos Library 2nd Floor Conference Room, according to the RethinkWaste submission form.

RethinkWaste is a joint powers authority of 12 government agencies and owns and manages the Shoreway Environmental Center, which receives all recyclables, green waste, and garbage collected from the member agencies.

Students within RethinkWaste’s service area qualify for the contest. The service area includes Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, parts of unincorporated San Mateo County, and the West Bay Sanitary District.

Photo: 2019 1st Place winner – Individual Category: Natalie T., “RethinkWaste and Create Something Magical” Arroyo School, San Carlos, 4th grade (Photo credit: RethinkWaste)