Campus artists utilized their own waste to create thoughtful and delightful pieces in UW Recycling’s sixth annual contest. This year’s submissions included a cat statuette made entirely from bread bag tags, a life-size bathroom display constructed by a house of students and placemats weaved from plastic newspaper bags.
Each of these art pieces represent an artist re-contextualizing their waste into a new form. This is UW Recycling’s goal - to encourage the UW community to see waste from a different perspective and consider its impact.
The contest’s selection committee chose eight winners in the four categories. Click the name of the artwork to read the artwork's description below.
3D art category
- Fly Free by G Shellye Horowitz
- 10,000 Pieces of Trash Under the Sea by Callie Bianco & Sarah Gest
2D art category
- Spring Blues by Marisa Garcia
- Treasures in the trash by Tricia O'Hara
Textile art category
- Breakfast Reading by Arni Litt
- MOTION by Sophia Zeng
Literature category
- Setting Up Camp by Joe Selmont
- The National Recycler Unleashes Littering Bombshell by Greg Olsen
This year’s contest received 29 submissions from UW students and staff. The artwork needed to be created from items normally thought of as trash or a written work about waste. Click the slideshow below to view all the 3D, 2D, and textile art submissions.
Many of this year’s submissions exemplified the theme of reflecting on their personal waste. One artist created a 3D ocean floor, inspired by their go-to snack of roasted seaweed. Another artist combined their quilting skills and their favorite soda cans to wire a 2D art piece in a similar fashion to tied quilts.
"Each piece was so unique and creative,” said student judge Noelle Akemann. “It was exciting to see how every contestant transformed their materials and showcased their own perspective on sustainability.”
Click here to read all of the 2025 literature submissions.
The winning art pieces in each category are highlighted in detail below. They will also be displayed in an exhibit on the second floor of Odegaard Undergraduate Library from late April to mid-May 2025.
All details below submitted by the artists.
3D Art category
Sculpture, model or other pieces that stand upright
1st place winner: Fly Free by G Shellye Horowitz
Artwork Description
Medical waste is an issue not easy to resolve. Refrigerated medications ship in Styrofoam. My medication comes with butterfly needles that are the wrong size but cannot be donated. I made butterflies to highlight the need to increase efforts to reduce medical waste when possible.
Image description: four orange and blue 3D butterflies in various sizes on a tree stump. Butterfly artwork made from butterfly needles, syringes, Styrofoam and hot glue.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
These butterflies are created from medical waste I collect as a woman with hemophilia A. People with chronic conditions are often left with piles of medical waste to dispose of. For me, it is butterfly needles, Styrofoam containers and glass bottles of used meds.
2nd place winner: 10,000 Pieces of Trash Under the Sea by Callie Bianco & Sarah Gest
Artwork description
Coincidentally, we had both been saving small pieces of trash over time: the wine corks, soda can tabs, and gum wrappers. All three of these items represent just some of the many tiny pieces of trash that can end up polluting our oceans and endangering sea life when care is not taken in waste disposal. We brought these pieces together to create a fish; one that is not killed by trash, but rather brought to life by it.
Image description: a fish statue with a metal head and a lightbulb for an eye with a teal cloth body. The fish’s dorsal and tail fin are made from wine corks and the pectoral fin is made from cardboard. The artists used the following items to make the fish: a soap jug, can tabs, a shoelace, wine corks, curtain scraps, Styrofoam packaging, gum wrappers, toothpicks, a broken lightbulb, a cereal box, cardboard packaging, wood siding from house, and wood scrap.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
The variety of materials used speaks to an important aspect of sustainability: one size does not fit all. Like our project creation process, managing waste and creating sustainable systems at UW also requires a team effort.
This piece reminds us to be intentional with our waste disposal and imaginative in giving new life to “trash”. Committing to these actions consistently can create a ripple effect at home and work.
When we work together, these intentional actions have greater impact. We took some inspiration from the UW Power Plant’s work to transform campus cooling systems, which in turn help protect salmon in Lake Washington. This highlights that our sustainability efforts at UW reach far and wide - both on land and at sea.
2D art category
Pieces that may be hung on a wall like painting, photography, or collage
1st place winner: Spring Blues by Marisa Garcia
Artwork description
I had the ripped jeans for almost a year, just waiting for this year’s contest. My original idea was to make a macrame hanging. After several attempts, I gave up. The denim did not work well for macrame. So, I changed direction and started making flowers. I did not know what the final piece would be and just kept trying new ideas for flowers. I love flowers and plants but cannot keep them alive. Now, I have a beautiful floral wreath to decorate my home with.
Image description: a wreath with several shades of blue jean rosettes offset with silver metal leaves. Artwork made from an old pair of jeans, aluminum cans, and a cardboard box.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
This is my third year entering the trash art contest. When I am about to throw something away, I think, "Can I use this for an art project?” I have treasures waiting to be turned into something new. Ribbon from a bouquet, empty candy tins, an old gift basket, and a torn t-shirt. Using items that may otherwise be thrown out challenges my creativity.
2nd place winner: Treasures in the trash by Tricia O'Hara
Artwork description
When I bought a new TV, I discovered part of the packaging looked like a trinket shelf. As a avid collector of things, I was interested to explore what this would look like with items typically thought of as trash. I spent a month collecting pieces of trash I created, found in my yard, and found on dog walks around the neighborhood. I focused on things I saw a lot of, things that intrigued me, and unexpected finds.
Image description: Blue packaging hanging from a hook with various litter items in the indents of the packaging. Crushed aluminum cans line the bottom. The artwork includes: TV packaging, bottle caps, used candles, can tabs, wine corks, plastic bottle tops, receipts, empty lip balm, air fresheners, abandoned charging cables, flattened cans, a Christmas light, cough drop wrappers, dog poop bag rolls, finished pepper grinder, and discarded assorted plastic
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
Creating this piece encouraged me to notice the trash around me and look at it in different ways. What pieces had interesting colors or textures? What was I seeing the most of? How could me noticing and picking up one piece impact the world around me? The flattened cans provided the clearest example of impact. I began to notice them on the side of the road I walked everyday. There was (what appeared to be) an overwhelming amount and I marveled at the transformation of 3-D objects to things as flat as a sheet of paper. I picked one up, unsure how they would fit into my trinket shelf and sure more would replace them. The next day I picked another one up. After a week and a half of this, the route was clear of cans that still have not returned. What felt overwhelming was solved in just a few walks around the block.
Textile art category
art created predominantly from textile and fiber art techniques like sewing, weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, quilting, etc.
1st place winner: Breakfast Reading by Arni Litt
Artwork description
These two placemats are made from plastic bags that are usually tossed into plastic recycling bins. The mats are reversible with edges trimmed in either blue or orange threads. The weave structure is plain weave, the simplest weave structure; over under, over under. The warp (lengthwise yarns) is 100% cotton.
My idea was to see if I could create a simple weaving that anyone, especially children, could do with waste plastic bags. The structure can be made on a simple cardboard loom or picture frame or even without a structure, just on a clip board. And we all have plastic bags. The warp can also be plastic bags if not woven on a large loom.
Image description: woven orange table placemats with white and blue accents on a table. One set of dishware sits atop the placemat. Art is made from plastic bags used to protect newspapers for home delivery.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
I rescued a loom from an estate that had a short 50-year-old warp (lengthwise yarns) on it that was usually considered waste. Also, I had accumulated a pile of orange plastic bags from the Seattle Times and blue ones from the New York Times newspapers. These usually ended up in plastic recycling. Could plastic bags be made into yarn; PLARN the newest idea in recycled fiber? I decided on cutting the bags into three parts that were connected into a long strip. The colored bags allowed for a pattern accented by the warp that was considered waste on the loom. The warp was enough for two washable placemats and an idea for future use of these bags.
2nd place winner: MOTION by Sophia Zeng
Artist’s portfolio: https://sophiaxzeng.xyz/
Artwork description
MOTION is the second edition of the REMADE BY UW DESIGN project, which focuses on upcycling. This limited edition collection of bags comes in three sizes, with two adjustable and removable straps. The bags are crafted from discarded retail banners and industrial printing offcuts, connecting waste from the beginning and end of the retail banner cycle into a single product.
Image description: model wearing an over-the-shoulder, mid-size bag featuring a mountainous landscape. The bags are crafted from used, discarded retail banners and industrial printing offcuts.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
Growing up free skiing in the PNW has deeply influenced my approach to design. My project, MOTION, directly addresses waste within the outdoor retail industry that is prevalent within the PNW community by repurposing discarded retail banners and industrial printing offcuts—materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill waste. By transforming these remnants into functional, modular bags, I give new life to what is typically overlooked. This project highlights the potential of upcycling in product design, demonstrating that waste can be both aesthetically and practically valuable. The collection not only reduces material waste but also sparks conversations about sustainability and circular design within the outdoor community.
Literature category
short-form written work such as an essay, poetry, drama, story, etc.
1st place winner: Setting Up Camp by Joe Selmont
Literature piece is a poem.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
As a typical PNW granola, I grapple with the contradiction between my love for nature and my dependence on modern conveniences. In Setting Up Camp, I reflect on this tension, contrasting my romanticized vision of wilderness — embodied by figures like John Muir and Wendell Berry — with the reality of my consumer habits. No matter how much I strive to respect and preserve the environment, I remain complicit in its degradation. My reliance on petroleum-based gear and packaged food underscores the impact of personal waste, even in moments meant to connect with the natural world.
2nd place winner: The National Recycler Unleashes Littering Bombshell by Greg Olsen
Image description: A tabloid cover page featuring a graphically rendered Kraken devouring trash. The title reads “National Recycler: local kraken mistakes garbage pile for pirate ship.” Other snippets of articles included on the cover page are: “bigfoot declares war on litterbugs: stop destroying my home” and “Fremont troll (in image) weds in “trashy” ceremony-literally!”.
How is this relevant to your personal and/or waste you see at the UW?
This piece parodies tabloid publications and calls out litterers who don't think their discarded trash affects others. It shows that over time littering destroys our outdoors — and even our beautiful college campuses — and causes unsettling repercussions for those who usually don't cause the problems, but are often the ones who have to deal with the disturbing results.
The UW Recycling team thanks this year’s participants and our 2025 judging committee!
The competition was part of this year's Campus Race to Zero Waste (previously RecycleMania). Campus Race to Zero Waste will be happening again in 2026 and we’re looking forward to planning next year’s contest. In the meantime, stay in touch with us on Instagram @uwrecycling or contact us at recycle@uw.edu.