Reuse Industries recently announced the second Annual Appalachian Ohio ReUse Competition. Open to youth and adult residents of Appalachian Ohio, the competition offers a showcase and over $3,000 in cash prizes for artistic and functional products made from re-used materials.

“At ReUse, we know that the solutions to many of the issues we face are hidden in the creativity of the people in our community,” said Chip Rice, ReUse board president. “We think of this contest not just as an opportunity to reward the skill to rethink, reuse and upcycle materials. As we witnessed last year, this effort also brings our community together for the opportunity to learn from and inspire one another.”

“We were overwhelmed by the response to the competition last year,” said Zachary Holl, ReUse executive director. “The wide range of innovation and creativity was even more impressive than the large number of entries we received.”

More than 160 individuals and teams from thirteen counties signed up for the 2014 competition and 90 entries were submitted.

The 2015 competition has several new categories.

“We learned how challenging an open-ended approach can be from a judging standpoint,” said Lauren McCullough, a ReUse board member and one of the judges last year. “How can you compare a spot welder made from microwave oven parts to a set of jewelry made from flatware to a re-made piece of furniture?”

The new categories — clothing/fashion/jewelry, home and garden, furniture and technology — will allow entrants to pick the category they think is the best fit and increase everyone’s chances of winning a prize. The 2015 competition also offers a new young adult age category, in addition to youth and adult categories.

Competition partners and supporters include Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, the Sugar Bush Foundation, Rural Action and the Appalachian Ohio Zero Waste Initiative.

Those interested in entering the competition must submit an “Intent to Enter” form by March 14, with submissions due between March 31 and April 5 at ReUse Industries in Athens. The competition will conclude with an awards ceremony and exhibition on Earth Day (April 22) co-hosted by Ohio University’s office of sustainability. The intent to enter form, more details, and last year’s prize-winning entries can be found at www.reuseindustries.org.