Art contest for kids focuses on glass recycling

Fairfax County is launching an art contest with the goal of educating kids in Mason District about the benefits of recycling glass.

The contest is open to students in grades 6-12 who attend a school in the Justice, Annandale, or Falls Church high school pyramids.

The contest is sponsored by the Solid Waste Management Program in partnership with the Mason District Arts Advisory Council.

To enter, students should submit an original artwork reflecting the theme: “The benefits and importance of glass recycling for our community.” Students may submit artwork individually or as a group.

The winning artworks will be painted and prominently displayed on the purple glass recycling bin at the Mason District Government Center in time for Earth Day in April.

Artwork must be submitted (one entry per student) by Feb. 27.

Two winners will be announced: one for students in grades 6-8 and another for students in grades 9-12. The winners will be announced in March.

Click here for more information and an entry form.

Fairfax County installed the purple containers around the county in 2019 to discourage people from including glass in curbside trash and recycling bins.

According to the Solid Waste Management Program, the glass bottles and jars deposited in the county’s purple bins are ground up and used to make food and beverage containers, fiberglass insulation, and reflective materials.