Turn trash into art by donating to St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Centers

Instead of trashing old buttons, wine corks, and bottle lids, donate them to the St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Centers, a nonprofit responsible for keeping 20,000 pounds of reusable items out of landfills each year by donating the materials to schools and organizations. Families can also create art projects using the found items at the centers’ art workshops, events, and open studio time.

Highly desirable items include arts and crafts supplies such as easels, paintbrushes, and slightly used paints; yarn and ribbon; beads and buttons; board games; and pens, pencils, and markers. The nonprofit even takes gently used children’s books for its VanGo Reading Outreach Program, a mobile classroom that pairs an art activity with a book.

To donate, check the list of accepted items at sltrc.com, attend St. Louis Earth Day Festival, or call 636-227-7095 to arrange a drop-off time.