Businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of a unique recycling service that could see their rubbish transformed into works of art.
Creative youngsters in East Durham are calling on firms to donate their waste so it can be used as part of an environmentally friendly arts project.
The young people will be using the items during workshop sessions with professional artists.
The project is being organised by District of Easington Council’s Arts Development Unit and the Pride in Easington team.
Michelle Morton, Pride in Easington officer, said: “The young people themselves will be going out during the coming weeks collecting items they can use for the project but we also need the support of local businesses.
“We’re asking for any interesting waste or leftovers they might have lying about that we can use. We’re interested in anything from cardboard packaging and bits of plastic to off-cuts of material and broken tiles.”
It is hoped that schools and community groups from across the district will get involved in the project, which will begin in April and run throughout the summer.
The workshops will take place in a vacant shop unit at Dalton Park, where open sessions for shoppers will also take place.
Pupils from St Bede’s Comprehensive, Peterlee, have already signed up to the project and will be combing local beaches for interesting objects to be turned into green art.
The Pride team will be collecting waste items during the coming month.
Businesses that would like to get involved in the project should contact the Pride in Easington team on (0191) 527 0501 or e.mail pride@easington.gov.uk