T.R.A.S.H. into Treasure
A fat worm coiled in a specimen jar? No! Wait! That’s plastic tubing!
An extraterrestrial lurking in the corner? Wait! Is that a lamp?
These are artworks made by participants in T.R.A.S.H., which stands for The Recology Artstart Student Hub, a new artist-in-residence (AIR) program, piloted at Recology Sonoma Marin this summer.
Wet Specimens, a piece in the show by Charlotte Ruiz
A partnership between Recology Sonoma Marin and Artstart, a local nonprofit, T.R.A.S.H. gives young artists (ages 15-25) a chance to learn about recycling and make art from salvaged materials. Five local youths (Ellie Bertling, Kendelle Lannert, Ace Noriega, Charlotte Ruiz and Joseph Taylor) spent 7 weeks this summer pulling leftovers from recycling at Recology’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Santa Rosa.
The Santa Rosa MRF, which opened at its present location in 2024, is a cutting-edge sorting and recycling operation that recovers 85% of the materials that residents put in their recycling bins. T.R.A.S.H. artists pull from the remaining 15%: wishcycling, tanglers, plastic bags, scrap metal, plastic film, too-small pieces, etc. Each student got $200 for materials. They spent it wisely at Recycle Town in Petaluma and The Legacy in Sebastopol.
Local artists provided inspiration. Judith Shelby Lang and Richard Lang stopped by to talk about their ongoing project: One Beach Plastic. Students visited the studio of assemblage artist Jim Ford Grant in Bodega Bay. And Joanne Wang of Reuse Alliance came and talked to them about her art practice.
The first Recology AIR program started in 1990 at the Waste Transfer Station in San Francisco. It selects 3 local professional artists per year, pairing them with 3 local college students. The exhibit that culminates each residency is a hot ticket in the SF art scene.
GLEAN in Portland, OR, established in 2010, selects 5 local artists a year to spend 5 months gleaning discarded materials at the Metro Central transfer station in Portland, culminating in a show at a local art gallery. The King County, AIR program, like San Francisco, selects 3 professional artists a year for their residency.
T.R.A.S.H. stands out for its focus on younger artists. Marie Kneemeyer, Public Education Manager at Recology Sonoma Marin, who oversees the program, along with Heather Brook of Artstart, recalls worrying about “keeping everyone safe,” but everyone adapted to the environment and “safely frolicking” became the norm. Lead Artist/Mentor, Asherah Weiss worked alongside the students at their trash-filled tables. The program’s goal was fulfilled: both students and viewers will be thinking more critically about their own consumption and “waste.” Watch this to hear from the students themselves.
The students’ work is featured in an exhibit: – Reclaim,Repurpose, Reimagine – at Sonoma State University Art Gallery through Oct.18, which also includes 5 other fabulous “trash” artists: Mia Feuer, Bryan Keith Thomas, Arleene Correa Valencia, Richard Lang and Judith Selby Lang of One Beach Plastic.
Another exhibit featuring more of the student’s work is scheduled for Oct.22, 2025 - Jan.7,2026 at the California Welcome Center, Santa Rosa.
Participants and staff were interviewed by Heath Massey, Editor Reuse News
Other Waste Facility Artist in Residence Programs:
Aug. 1 - Sept. 30: Applications accepted for RAIR (Recycled Artist In Residence) program in Philadelphia https://www.rairphilly.org/
Sept 1 - Oct. 17: Applications accepted for the Portland Recology AIR program (Portland area artists) https://www.gleanportland.com/
Upcoming Events
September 20 : Bodega Bay Repair Fair + Clothing Swap
We will be hosting a Repair Fair and Clothing Swap at the Bodega Bay School. This event will include a Clothing Swap and other activities and resources. Bodega Bay is just a short drive from Petaluma or Sebastopol - make a day of it! Details to register below. As always, if you’d like to get involved email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here !
September 27 : Santa Rosa Reuse Bazaar
We are excited to be partnering with Recology and the City of Santa Rosa to host the 2nd annual Reuse Bazaar. This giant community swap was so fun we’re doing it again - this year at the massive Grace Pavilion at the Sant Rosa Fairgrounds. Drop off your items between 8am - 11am and ‘shop’ all the free things between 12pm - 3pm. Click the button below for more details and a link to volunteer.
October 4 : South Novato Repair Fair
We are excited to be back at the South Novato Library maker space for another Repair Fair. Details to register below. As always, if you’d like to get involved email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here !
October 9 : SRJC Green Living Fair
Join us at SRJC’s Green Living Fair! We will be on the main quad at the Santa Rosa Campus of Santa Rosa Junior College from 3:30 - 5:30pm. SRJC Fashion will be there doing textile mending and we will be fixing lamps/small appliances and bicycles. There will also be other reuse activities and resources on how to live green. This event is open to the general public!
October 11 : Grand Opening of The Reuse Hub!
Join us for the Grand Opening of the new Reuse Hub - a central place for reuse in the North Bay! Come tour the new facility at the Petaluma Outlet Mall, explore the reuse resources, and sign up for upcoming reuse skills workshops.
We will be open from 12pm - 6pm with lots of reuse activities and demonstrations happening all day and for all ages.
Opportunities
Help Formr (featured in our March Issue) rebuild after a fire at their shop. Please consider supporting their GoFundMe.
Sep 25 : Built for the Future: Circularity as a Business Advantage Webinar
Oct 3 - 5 : The Just Between Friends Sale is coming to Santa Rosa. Find one near you here!
Oct 7 : Mark the calendar for our next Creative Reuse Center Roundtable.
Oct 11 - 18 : North Bay Zero Waste Week is back! See all the amazing events planned (and add you own)!
Oct 20 : Registration Closes for the Reimagine our Future Prize for college students from select universities.
Help us Reach our Goal!
We’re so close to reaching our fundraising goal for the Reuse Hub!
It’s not too late to get an invite to the VIP Grand Opening Preview Party. Donate $250 or more by October 3rd to secure your spot at this private event.
Reuse in the News
As we open the Reuse Hub in a mall, this news seems timely : mall reuse is cool.
One stadium at a time.
Are you observing Secondhand September? Do you know how much shopping secondhand can save you? Teaser: this is the theme for our 2025 Reuse Awareness Campaign launching next month!
Reuse to Amuse
Why we should get bored.
Things we’d like more of: trash cafes and swap shops on every campus.
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