The theme for the third annual art contest is "Small Acts, Big Impact - Show how everyday choices help reduce waste at home and in your community"
Local artists in elementary, middle, and high schools who have a passion for the environment and recycling step right this way. Hillsborough County Solid Waste has started accepting artwork for its third annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Art Contest.
The theme for the third annual Hillsborough County Solid Waste art contest is "Small Acts, Big Impact - Show how everyday choices help reduce waste at home and in your community."
The third annual art contest closes Nov. 30, 2025, but local student artists can submit their work any time before the deadline by completing the Waste Reduction and Recycling Art Contest Form.
Eligibility and rules
The contest is open to students entering third through 12th grade. To be eligible, the student must be attending an elementary, middle, or high school or home-schooled in Hillsborough County.
Contestants can submit a drawing using any drawing tools, including digital tools, such as Photoshop. They can also submit a collage using drawings, photographs, and/or other materials. Other types of submissions will not be considered for judging. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) programs are not acceptable to create or assist in making any art piece submission type.
Submitted artwork must be created solely by the student and be entirely original. In the artwork, students are encouraged to express their creativity and desire to protect and preserve the environment. Contest art ideas include creating art pieces about organizing litter cleanups, food or clothing donation drives, removing ocean plastics to protect animals and nature, composting food waste, community gardening, how to reduce food waste at home, using reusable items such as a water bottle and bag, teaching recycling rules such as no plastic bags in recycling carts, or saying "no" to plastic bags, straws, and utensils when you go out.
Hillsborough County staff will judge the 2025 entries. Three winners will be selected, one from each range: third grade through fifth grade, sixth grade through eighth grade; and ninth grade through 12th grade. Winners will be selected in January 2026 and receive countywide recognition and waste reduction-themed prizes. A recognition event will be held in February 2026.
2024 winners
In February 2025, Hillsborough County Solid Waste recognized the winners of the second annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Art Contest. Twenty-six students from across the county participated in last year's art contest. An awards ceremony was held at the Sulphur Springs Museum and Heritage Center, 1101 E. River Cove St., Tampa, FL 33604. Nearly 50 people attended the awards ceremony where winners were presented with an award certificate and sustainable giveaways, and attendees received a presentation on the importance of recycling.
The two below and the one at the top of the page were the 2024 Art Contest winners.
Enter the contest
To get started and participate in the third annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Art Contest, visit the Waste Reduction and Recycling Art Contest Form.