In addition to the lesson plans, the “Wear It?, Recycle It!” educational program also included a poster design contest. SMART received 90 entries from schools across the U.S. created. The posters showed the benefits of textile recycling, especially recycling their used clothing.

First-grader, Islam Hassan, from AQSA Elementary School in Bridgeview, IL, was named the winner of the Kindergarten – 2nd grade division. Traley Haubert, a 3rd grader at Phillips Elementary School in Phillips, WI, won poster design contest in the 3rd-5th grade division. The objective of the poster contest was for the students to depict what “Donate, Recycle, Don’t Throw Away” means to them after learning more about textile recycling.

The winners received 10 t-shirts and 10 posters with their winning drawing on it for their family and friends, one t-shirt and one poster for the principal and one t-shirt and one poster for the teacher. The t-shirts used in making the shirts were made from 100% recycled textiles. SMART’s President, Lou Buty, and Vice President, Jeff Pearl, selected the winning poster entries.

Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association