Zero waste is the ambitious plan first launched in San Francisco, California, to divert all waste from landfill. The concept may seem to be so lofty as to be unrealistic, but not for artists. Artists have long served a role in elevating the consciousness of their communities, as in the example of Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, the famous painting that silently condemned the savagery of war. While not as grandiose as a statement on the wages of war, local artists are, as they are wont to do, making waves in the war on waste. Here are some of the ways they are doing it.
Upcycling is a trend for those for whom the saying one man’s trash is another man’s treasure are words to live by. Upcycling involves not only capturing trash and diverting it from landfill by recycling it, but actually creating something altogether new from it, usually of an artistic nature.
Nifty Upcycling Projects
Old tile has been revived through a number of upcycling projects such as creating coasters from tile samples, and an array of ephemera, such as scrapbooking paper, magazine images, book pages or comic book strips. Currently a ban on plastic water bottles is being considered for California. Such a ban already is in effect in many cities and counties throughout the state. In the meanwhile, artists have found innumerable ingenious and novel new ideas for using them rather than tossing them. One such idea is to create jewelry from them, including bottle bracelets.
Other materials such as leather can have multiple lives, just as cats, when they have outlived their initial incarnation. Bracelets and other personal objects are viable upcycling projects. Mason jars have also been making a comeback. These jars which are often associated with pickling and preserving condiments and dried fruits and jam and preserve making, are being rescued from the ignobility of the trash heap.
One recent Yelp event posting, EcoMonster offered those wishing to create something unique, timeless and nostalgic, by making globes out of mason jars. Glass, as many other precious resources, is not infinite. And projects like these recognize the need to shift consumption habits from a “new” only model, to a “like new” or “new to me” one. EcoMonster, based in San Jose, California, offers “handcrafted and earth-friendly” products. The company wholehearted supports the spirit of independent and local artists and their craft. Additionally, they offer green living and lifestyle workshops and art classes year round (Source:www.ecomonster.com)
Recently, the trash hauler Fast Haul created an infographic “Turning Trash into Treasure” to show how easy and fun it is to make something beautiful out of trash. By tuning into your inner artist, residents can do something good for the environment, save money, and have fun while they’re at it. The infographic can be seen here: http://www.fasthaul.com/ecoblog/2013/04/12/turning-trash-into-treasure-infographic/.
In partnership with Recology, the Artist in Residence program gave a select group of artists the challenge to find inspiration in the waste salvaged at the public disposal and recycling center. The project, which offers artists a stipend, not only resulted in a collection of great art on display at a number of public and private spaces, it also provided a vehicle for educating the public on the importance of recycling and conservation.
Ethan Malone is a passionate environmentalist and loves to spend time with his children upcycling unused items they collect. To learn more about the author, feel free to connect with him on Google+.
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