Elementary students share ideas for reducing waste | Arts & Culture

When it comes to reducing waste, children are the future. And, if the 56 colorful artworks now decorating the Northgate Library are any indication, they have plenty of ideas – from recycling juice boxes to reusing bottles.

Students from Seattle and Shoreline elementary schools participated in the 2010/2011 Elementary Student Waste Reduction Art Contest, sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and CleanScapes.

“As Seattle moves toward the goal of becoming a zero-waste city, our success will be driven by making many small choices in our daily routines to minimize waste,” SPU Solid Waste Director Tim Croll said in a press release. “These students have captured the simplicity of the choices that will help pave the way forward.”

The art, representing first through sixth-graders from John Hay, Kimball, Wing Luke, Laurelhurst, Lowell, Meridian Park, Echo Lake and Lake Forest Park elementary schools, went on display at the Northgate Library, located at 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E., Aug. 1 and will stay up until Sept. 5.