Taylor Graves stands with her entry in last year’s KC Recycling Depot Trash to Treasure contest. “The Heron.” won Graves both the middle school division award and the people’s choice award. She utilized old vinyl records, album covers, telephone wire and foam to create her piece.
(Photo provided)

American citizens generate approximately 250 million tons of trash each year. Of the trash created, only 30 percent is recycled and returns to consumers as new products leaving 175 million tons of garbage to be thrown away into one of the nation’s landfills, where this waste will lay forever.

This spring, the Kosciusko County Recycling Depot encourages residents to rethink their trash and enter the second annual Trash to Treasure contest April 13 at Warsaw Community Public Library. Artists may drop off their pieces at the library between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Judging by volunteers from Lakeland Art Association will begin at 11 a.m. and winners will be announced at noon.

The contest will have four divisions: elementary school, middle school, high school and adult. Plus, all visitors will be able to vote for the people’s choice award.

Registration and contest details can be obtained by contacting the KC Recycling Depot at (574) 372-3087, at the WCPL reference desk or by visiting www.kcrecycling.com. Participants need to register by April 10. There will be gift card prizes for the winners.