Recycling Truck with winning artwork on it

3R's Art & Poetry Contest

2023 Winners Announced! Check them out below:

Our goal is to engage the City of Tampa’s youth in environmental stewardship while conveying a recycling and waste reduction message.  A first-place winner will be selected from each of the following categories: Elementary, Middle, High School, and the MacDonald Training Center. The winning artwork will be displayed on a recycling collection truck for one year. The winning poetry will be on display at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park alongside the Tampa River Center Building.

 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Students (grades 3 - 12) enrolled in a school or homeschooled within the City of Tampa limits under Tampa Solid Waste Service. 
  • Clients of the MacDonald Training Center Arts Program.
  • Verify with schools list provided in the Rules & Regulations Packet link below:
  • Click on the button below to read complete rules & regulations. 
 Contest Rules & Regulations
Submission Application

For questions, please email Edgar.CastroTello@tampagov.net.

2023 Art Winners

hourglass with healthy earth environment on top falling into pollution and despair below

Mayra - Heritage Elementary School

Three R's get depicted as Reduce Reuse and Recycle. Each R with tips within themselves to do right and do better

Cora - Howard W. Blake High School

Planet Earth in multicolor patten with Reduce Reuse Recycle over it. There is a recycling symbol within the earth with pollution and other items.

Mia - Christ the King Catholic School

Abstract drawing of a tree in a landscape. Bold and blurry but captivating at the same time.

Jessica - MacDonald Training Center

2023 Poetry Winners

Listen 8 Circle

by Samiyah - Loretta Ingraham Recreation Center

Re-re-re-recycle every day. 
Just a little goes a long way. 
Re-re-re-recycle every day. 
Just a little goes a long way. 
Recycle paper, cardboard, glass. 
Recycle plastic bottles, aluminum cans. 
Recycle newspapers and magazines. 
You can do it. Recycle every day. 
Re-re-re-recycle every day. 
Just a little goes a long way. 
Recycle paper, cardboard, glass. 
Recycle plastic bottles, aluminum cans. 
Recycle newspapers and magazines. 
You can do it. Recycle every day. 
Just a little goes along way. 
Re-re-re-recycle every day. 
Just a little goes a long way,
 

 

 

Save Our Home

Finley - Villa Madonna

Living, Breathing every day, 
But it's different in the bay. 
Animals suffer, 
Each day becomes tougher. 
We run and jump, 
While they live in our dump. 
Our sky's are Blue, 
While their Sea is gray. 
I wouldn't want to Live this way. 
They can't Control us, 
So let's give our Stuff, 
To this Recycling bus, 
And make Our world a Better Place. 
 

Think Before You Throw

Genevieve - MacDonald Training Center

…Think about all the nature preserves 
from Turkey Creek Park to Cypress Preserve.
 …Think about creatures big and small, 
birds, amphibians, insects, reptiles, and 
mammals alike agonizing over the trash 
we choose to throw. 
…Think about all the living organisms as a whole 
that are dying because we don’t think 
before we throw. 
…Think about all the land big and small 
crying and pleading with us to 
think about the trash we throw. 
…Think before you throw because your trash
 has a big impact of the environment
 we live in everyday. 
… So before you open a window and throw
 and walk on a trail and throw
 stop and think.