Community Makerspace fosters sustainable creativity in Athens
Upcycle Ohio Community Makerspace Manager Heather Fuston said the goal of the Community Makerspace is to create a circular economy through the promotion of waste reduction and reproducing materials.
February 24, 2025
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According to a study conducted by Boston University, 34 billion pounds of textiles are discarded in the United States each year. This translates to roughly 100 pounds of discarded textiles per person. Of those textiles that are discarded, 66% are sent to landfills.
Heather Fuston, manager of the UpCycle Ohio Community Makerspace, said her organization is doing its part to stem a tidal wave of textile waste from flowing into local landfills. Last year, UpCycle Ohio recycled 19,000 pounds of textiles and helped people in communities across Athens County mend their clothes. This not only keeps textiles out of landfills but also reduces the number of new textiles that need to be produced.