Calling all crafty folks, educators, artists, students, and hoarders who live near Indianapolis, love upcycling, and want some free art supplies. ZeroLandfill Indy is scheduled for August 6.
Keep reading to find out how to make the most of your time at this huge green giveaway. Plus, get my tips for ways to use these no-cost materials.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions About ZeroLandfill Indy’s Free Art Supplies
What Is ZeroLandfill Indy?
Officially, ZeroLandfill Indy describes its group’s mission this way: “The Indianapolis chapter of ZeroLandfill is an organization that works on closing the gap in the material resource loop and forwards the green initiatives in the interior design industry.”
If I had to give an elevator pitch to someone unfamiliar with the group, I’d say that ZeroLandfill Indy is a program that gathers landfill-bound cool stuff (think expired and discontinued samples donated by architecture and designer industry professionals) and shares them—at no cost—with folks in the community for creative repurposing.
The first ZeroLandfill program began in 2003 in Ohio, and it’s since expanded to over 30 different cities across the United States.
Interior designer and sustainability advocate Sarah Savage started the Indianapolis chapter of ZeroLandfill in November 2014. Since launching, the central Indiana chapter has shared over a million pounds of free art supplies with the local creative community, diverting these from ending up in the landfill and waste stream.
Here’s to decreasing waste and encouraging recycling and reusing!
Is Everything Really Free?
Is There an Entry Fee?
Yes, that’s right—everything costs zip, zilch, zero, nada! ZeroLandfill Indy provides these materials to creators at no cost.
There is no fee to enter the event. The only costs are your time to attend (and pick out your materials for upcycling) as well as the gas it takes to drive to the site.
Is Everything Really Free? Is There an Entry Fee?
Yes, that’s right—everything costs zip, zilch, zero, nada! ZeroLandfill Indy provides these materials to creators at no cost.
There is no fee to enter the event. The only costs are your time to attend (and pick out your materials for upcycling) the giveaway and the gas it takes to drive to the site.
What Are Some of the Free Art Supplies Available?
Some of the items that have been available at ZeroLandfill Indy giveaways in the past include:
- decorator fabric swatches
- wallpaper samples
- laminate chips
- upholstery fabric swatches
- paint chips
- vinyl wallcovering samples
- stone tile samples
- resilient flooring
- binders
- pleather samples
- cardboard tubes
- resin material samples
- foam crates
- plastic samples
- mat board
- foam core
- quartz chips
- carpet samples
- ceramic tile samples
- wood samples (sometimes there are even jumbo frames made out of molding)
- glass tile samples
- and lots of other fun, random stuff (e.g., sand samples!)
Where Can You Go to Get More Info About ZeroLandfill Indy?
“Like” the ZeroLandfill Indy page on Facebook to learn more about the group. Their account includes pictures from past giveaways of free art supplies which can give you a sense of what the event is like.
Additionally, if you like their page, you’ll also get updates about this year’s event (as well as news about future pop-ups).
When and Where Is the 2022 ZeroLandfill Event?
Saturday, August 6
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mayer Fabrics
500 South Kitley Avenue
Indianapolis, IN
7 Tips for Attending Your First ZeroLandfill Indy
1. Wear a Big Smile
ZeroLandfill Indy is a volunteer-driven event. Make sure you take the time to thank all of the folks giving up time to make this giveaway possible.
2. Pack a Bottle of Water
Though they have a few fans running to help cool off attendees scrounging up free art supplies, it can get pretty warm in the warehouse space. You’ll appreciate having a bottle of icy water to drink as you “shop” (or after once you’re back in your car).
3. Bring Some Small But Sturdy Boxes or Strong Canvas Bags
Though there is no cost for the materials, you are required to put all of your takeaways on a scale so that the ZeroLandfill Indy volunteers can track how much you are giving a new home and preventing from going to the landfill as waste.
4. Haul Your Free Art Supplies Around Using a Small Cart
A lot of the free art supplies available at ZeroLandfill Indy are quite heavy, especially as you start getting a big pile together of stuff you want to rescue and take home. Having a small cart to tote your goodies around makes it easier to move around the huge space.
5. Schedule Your Trip for When You Have Plenty of Time
Don’t plan your trip to the ZeroLandfill Indy event if you only have a tight timeline. Give yourself plenty of time to get free art supplies, go through the checkout line, and travel back home.
Not only does it take a lot of time to go through all of the amazing items available to take home, but it you also may have to wait in line before exiting.
That’s because, though there is no cost for the materials, you are required to put all of your takeaways on a scale on your way out. You neded to do this so that the ZeroLandfill Indy volunteers can track the weight of what you’re hauling away (and preventing from going to the landfill as waste).
Additionally, the warehouse where the event is happening this year is next to some train tracks. Last year I was trapped behind a train for almost a half hour.
6. Make a List and Plan Your Projects
Who doesn’t love free art supplies? It’s so easy to get carried away at an event like ZeroLandfill Indy because there is so much good stuff!
To avoid taking more materials than you can actually use for creative projects, create a list in advance of must-haves and nice-to-haves. That way, when you arrive, you’ll be able to prioritize hunting down the stuff you really need first.
7. Clean Out Your Trunk
It’s surprising how big some of these free art supplies are! If you find something amazing that you weren’t expecting to bring home, make sure your car, SUV, or truck has the space to help you haul it away with you.
Last year, there were huge art frames made out of ornate wood molding that I was tempted to bring home, but I had already filled my back seat with fabric swatches, pleather samples, and plastic boards and my trunk was filled with donations to drop off at Goodwill so I had to leave them behind.
Learn from my mistake and go to the event with an empty vehicle, just in case.
Why I Attend ZeroLandfill Indy for Free Art Supplies
They say one gal’s trash is another chiquita’s treasure. And, every creative person knows with a little imagination (and hot glue—ha!) the possibilities are endless.
I enjoy making things, but I hate how expensive art-making materials can be, and I also love the idea of making something out of items that others consider garbage.
That’s why ZeroLandfill Indy’s free art supplies giveaway is my ideal way to spend a Saturday. For me, there’s nothing better than restocking my crafty stock with unique, budget-friendly (hello free!) materials that inspires me to be creative while also making me feel good about keeping some stuff from ending up in the landfill.
I hope if you attend, you find some wonderful items to help you be creative and use these tips to make your hunt for materials go as smoothly as possible.
Have fun harvesting goodies to transform from trash into treasures!
