All News Releases By Date

Art exhibit features discarded materials as EPA commemorates America Recycles Month (Pa.)

Release Date: 11/17/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: Mike Frankel (215-814-2665

PHILADELPHIA - A unique exhibit featuring art created exclusively from discarded and recycled materials pulled from the streets of Philadelphia opened today as part of EPA’s celebration of America Recycles Month.

The exhibit, featuring work from Robert Scott Willis, an environmental artist from Philadelphia, is on display in the Public Information Center of EPA’s mid-Atlantic office, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia.

“This exhibit demonstrates that recycling knows no creative boundaries. Recycling conserves energy and natural resources, reduces air and water pollution and reduces greenhouse gases,” said Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator.

Thousands of products are recyclable, especially paper, yard waste, motor oil, tires, plastic, glass, batteries, obsolete electronic products and building materials.

Willis takes many of his materials from building or demolition sites.

“Old discarded materials worn by time, have a natural beauty by themselves,” Willis said. “I use them as a starting point in my creative process. Some people see beauty where others see waste. I sometimes bridge this gap by presenting elegant shapes and objects made from discarded objects.”

In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented about 64 million tons of material from ending up in landfills and incinerators. Today, Americans recycle about 28 percent of the daily waste, a rate that has almost doubled in the past 15 years.

The exhibit will remain in EPA’s public information center through Dec. 31, and is open to the public free of charge.

For more information about recycling go to: https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/ard.htm