ReUse Industries Turns Trash into Treasure

ReUse Industries is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to channeling reusable items out of landfills. Their mission is to protect the environment by reducing waste, boost the local economy by creating jobs, and provide an affordable shopping option for area residents. These days, ReUse has expanded the scope of that mission to include the creation of junk art.

With the help of local artist Joey Boyle, ReUse workers have manufactured a bed of “bike flowers” at their Albany location on Route 50. The flowers blossomed out of salvaged bicycle parts, and now serve to welcome patrons and encourage the transformation of trash into treasure.

“To me, the flowers show that trash can be more than just useful; it can also make the landscape a little prettier. The artistic side of things takes skill and patience, but it’s worth it if it inspires people to be more creative with their resources,” Max Felsher, an AmeriCorps VISTA working with ReUse Industries, said. “The hope is that the bike flowers will attract more people to our ultimate recycling center and encourage both students and residents to donate unwanted reusable items instead of throwing them away.”

Boyle’s famous flowers can also be seen in the East State Street median across from Bob Evan’s. “There’s a real demand for salvage art right now,” Boyle said. He continues to receive more and more orders for his unique creations.

In addition to the bike flowers, ReUse Industries also displays a 15-foot junk statue entitled “Rusty Salvage,” spawned from an old mattress frame and salvaged machinery components. “Aside from their aesthetic quality, the function of ‘Rusty Salvage,’ the bike flowers, and any future salvaged art, is to draw attention to ReUse Industries and the mission of the organization,” Executive Director of ReUse Industries Cathy Wilson said.

Visit any one of ReUse’s three locations: In Athens, 100 Columbus Road; in Albany, 74815 Route 50; or in Wellston, 102 South Ohio Ave. They also offer free-pick-ups of reusable items in Athens, The Plains, Albany, McArthur, Hamden, Wellston, and Jackson. Call (740) 698-8200 to schedule a pick-up. Make a difference and ReUse!

Leo DeLuca is an AmeriCorps VISTA at ReUse Industries, a community-based, non-profit organization. He is a graduate of Ohio University and a close confidant of Father Time.