The way ‘ZeroLandfill Nashville’ does spring-cleaning actually helps save the environment, keeping items out of landfills. ‘Zerolandfill’ is an award-winning up-cycling program held annually that works with the local architectural and interior design community to collect expired and out of date sample materials such as carpet, fabric, tile, wall-covering, paint chips, magazines, and three-ring binders. These materials, that would normally be thrown away, are made available free to the public—specifically targeting teachers, artists and the non-profit community.

This year’s event takes place April 20 and April 27 at Wilsonart at 1641 Lebanon Circle Pike, Nashville, Tenn. 37210 from 9 am until 3 pm both days. People attending the Zerolandfill Nashville event are responsible for transporting any materials they want and should bring their own bags, boxes or carts for moving their items. The April 27 date is part of a statewide initiative with similar events also taking place in Memphis and Knoxville.

ZeroLandfill projects nationally have diverted over 1,000,000 pounds of waste since 2006.  The Nashville event alone has diverted over 27 tons of materials the past two years. In fact, in its first year, Zerolandfill Nashville successfully diverted 16 tons of materials from the landfill (almost 2100 lbs. per hour of operation).

In 2011, ZeroLandfill won a ‘Green Heroes’ award from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Post for supporting the environmental practices of businesses in the Middle Tennessee region.

One of the goals of ZeroLandfill  is to work with construction industry participants on identifying and repurposing product and material samples that are traditionally disposed of as waste into art and education supplies.

Partners in this event include: International Interior Design Association (IIDA – TN Chapter), American Society of Interior Designers (ASID – TN Chapter) and Turnip Green Creative Reuse.