RethinkWaste announces 2026 Trash to Art contest — submit by March 30

Published on March 09, 2026

Trash to Art artwork

To celebrate Earth Month, RethinkWaste is excited to announce its annual Trash to Art contest, which is open to students in grades three-five within its service area. The contest encourages children to collect recyclable or trash materials and create a piece of art in any medium.

Contest guidelines:
  • Participants must be third to fifth grade students in the RethinkWaste service area.
  • The art piece must be composed of 90% from recyclable or trash materials collected from home, school or everyday life. No compost or hazardous waste, such as batteries.
  • All art mediums are accepted, such as sculptures, collages and murals. All artwork should not be bigger than three feet by three feet. Artwork must be able to stand on its own and be moved by a single person.

This year’s contest is open to both individual students and classes.

Submissions are due by Monday, March 30, at 4 p.m. to the RethinkWaste Office located at 1245 San Carlos Ave., Suite E, San Carlos, CA 94070 (open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). Email tours@rethinkwaste.org or call (650) 802-3508 to schedule an alternative drop-off time.

A field trip to a local museum or art studio will be awarded to the class category winner and a class pizza party to the second class category winner. Individual winners will choose from a selection of fun local activities or sustainable arts and crafts kits. Winning art pieces will be announced the week of April 7, and all winners will be recognized publicly at the RethinkWaste office Saturday, April 25.

For more information, visit RethinkWaste's Trash to Art page, email tours@rethinkwaste.org or call 650-802-3508.

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