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We'd like to share some details about why we chose the theme of contamination for this art project.? Have you ever wondered, "can I recycle this?" or "this should be recycled."?? You are not alone.

What can happen when people reflect on those questions, is that the material being pondered upon goes into the recycling cart, regardless of if it can be recycled or not. However, placing items in your curbside recycling cart that don't belong harms recycling. Those items become contaminates for recyclables and ultimately end up going to the landfill.

Contamination is a real problem at our recycling facilities.

Local Artists

As many of you are aware, local artists were given materials that do not belong in our recycling carts but had unfortunately made their way into our recycling stream. We'd? like to share with you some of the details about their work.

Erica Raby

One of the artists, Erica Raby, got an entire box of plastics that do not belong in curbside recycling carts. You can see her at work creating preliminary sketches. Plastic bottles and jugs are the only types of plastics that should be placed into curbside recycling carts. As you can see in the picture, toys and car parts have unfortunately made their way into the recycling stream.



Dr. Charles Felzen Johnson

Dr. Charles Felzen Johnson, another of the artists, can be seen here working with some 

Bed sheetsmetal tanglers with hand tools. Tanglers can be:

• Hangers
• Plastic bags
• Ropes
• Wires

These items get caught up in machinery and the facility must be shut down to remove them.

Annette Yoho-Feltes

Annette Yoho-Feltes is seen here using the plasma cutter. Annette received scrap metal items, and in the picture provided she is working on a metal baking pan. Only metal beverage and food cans should be recycled in our curbside recycling carts. Scrap metal should be brought to a scrap metal yard.

Norman Mallard

Norman Mallard, the artist that received electronics, is working in the wood shop. Here you can see him cutting through the base of a computer keyboard. Electronics should never be placed in curbside recycling carts.




Sofia Calderwood

Sofia Calderwood received a box that contained unusual items. Here you can see her cutting a car mat! The only items that should be placed in curbside recycling carts are the following:

• Cardboard (flattened and no food)
• Cartons
• Metal beverage and food cans
• Paper (not shredded)
• Plastic bottles and jugs (rinsed, no caps)

Akron Makerspace

Pictured in this tab is Devin Wolfe, President of the Akron Makerspace showing off safety foot covers. As part of this project, ReWorks funded a membership to the Akron Makerspace for each artist so they could work on their projects. The Akron Makerspace provides tools, training (equipment and safety), as well as a space to work.