In a Nashville shop where donated yarn, paper, and paints pile high, artists and adults with disabilities are building a thriving, waste-cutting creative community.
Elizabeth Hewitt reports for Reasons To Be Cheerful.
In short:
- Creative reuse centers like Nashville’s Smart Art and Craft Supplies rescue leftover art materials from landfills and resell them at low cost to artists, teachers, and crafters.
- Smart not only diverts over a million pounds of supplies from waste — it also provides job training and meaningful work for adults with disabilities, creating an inclusive, supportive space.
- Similar centers across the country, like the SCRAP Creative Reuse network, show how local solutions can reduce waste, support education, and foster community through creativity.
Key quote:
“We are leveraging art and leveraging creativity, really, to impact a population that needs our support.”
— Kyle Graden, senior operations manager at Smart
Why this matters:
These reuse centers tackle two big problems at once: waste and exclusion. By reducing landfill-bound trash and offering inclusive employment, they show how community-driven innovation can support both environmental health and human dignity. Nationwide, places like SCRAP and other reuse hubs are proving that waste reduction can be personal, joyful, and deeply human.
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