3Rs Art & Poetry Contest Kick-Off

The annual art and poetry contest is for grades 3 to 12, representing Tampa schools, homeschools, the MacDonald Training Center and other City of Tampa programs.

The contest, now entering its 19th year, is an outreach education program that encourages participants to promote environmental stewardship through the importance of the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, a message conveyed in the submitted artwork and poems.

Winning artwork will be displayed on recycling collection vehicles, and winning poetry will be displayed at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.

"Every year, we continue to be astounded by the incredible talent, words, and visuals created by our applicants. Through their art, we want to challenge students to think beyond recycling and to embrace new waste reduction habits, bringing some focus to reducing and reusing. Bringing attention to the rising concerns of ocean pollution, litter, and waste production is a way these young artists can remind us all that it's beyond just young people's responsibilities; it's all our responsibility," says Recycling Specialist Edgar Castro Tello.

All artwork and poetry must be submitted online or in person by Friday, February 2, 2024. For instructions, rules, and regulations on the 3Rs Art & Poetry Contest, please visit our website at tampa.gov/3Rs.

Due to the Department's limited service area, only students attending a school or living within the Solid Waste service area are eligible to apply.

Be advised that not all addresses containing Tampa, FL, fall within the Department's service jurisdiction; to confirm, please visit our website above.