Bolton students have teamed up with the council to turn rubbish into works of art.
Art and design students from the University of Bolton and Bolton College joined forces with Bolton Council’s Waste and Recycling team to create amazing pieces of work from trash.
The University’s Art and Design Foundation students based their work on the brief ‘Junk Sculpture’.
Level 1, 2 and 3 Art and Design students from Bolton College used mainly materials supplied by the Waste and Recycling team to create work highlighting the importance of taking care of the environment.
More than 100 students took part in the ‘Salvage’ project, which is in its third year.
As part of the scheme, Bolton Council’s Recycling Officers visited University and College campuses to provide sessions for the students and teach them the importance of recycling, as well as how people should dispose of waste responsibly and what happens to it after it is collected.
The artwork was unveiled this week in a showcase at the University’s Social Learning Zone.
Rachel Dawson, Textiles and Surface Design Lecturer at the University of Bolton School of the Arts, said: “I can’t believe it’s possible to make such fantastic art from stuff you throw away. There is a lot of talent on display here.”
The artwork was assessed by judges including Bill Webster, Principal of Bolton College, Ged Young, Lecturer in Fine Art at the University and Cllr Adele Warren, Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services Delivery.
Cllr Warren said: “We are delighted to work with the University and College on this great project, which demonstrates the importance of recycling.
“It was really difficult to judge. The students are incredibly talented and there is some brilliant imagination on show.”
The showcase will form part of the students’ overall assessment portfolio for their diplomas in art and design.
First prize winner for a sea turtle design was university student Ayrton Mendes. Second prize went to Bolton College student Sophie Dunn for her striking recycling poster. 
There were two runners-up – Danna Campaverde-Nono, from the University, for a radio built of scrap materials and the whole of the art and design group from the college for their work, which was made from strips of plastic bottles coloured and fashioned to look like trees.
Last year’s winner, Annabelle Totty, aged 46, has since progressed from an Art and Design Foundation course to studying a BA in Textile and Surface Design at the University.
She said: “The foundation course and being successful in this project last year spurred me on to take this degree course and I am loving every moment of it.”