Conspicuous consumption has long been ingrained in our culture. We’re often too quick to throw things away–eschewing the careful frugalities of past generations–but a handful of Pepsi Refresh grant applicants in the Arts & Culture category are striving to turn their generation’s trash into another’s treasure.

A mechanical design engineer with a focus in robotics surfing wants to clean up the beaches of San Diego and then use certain cast-away items (like broken surf boards) to create “elegant” wall art…If he wins a $5,000 grant, it will go towards new trash receptacles for area beaches, art materials, and project promotion.

Another submitter would like to launch a zero-waste public art program in their community, where scraps from one project are used to create another work of art.

And Kaitlin Gallagher, a contender in the $25K grant category, wants to start The Artist Re-Source program–which “will consist of a store, studio, and gallery dedicated to re-sourcing items, destined for landfills, into “recycled” art.” projects.

Discover other great Pepsi Refresh Project ideas and vote today for your favorite projects to refresh the world.

Photo (cc) by Flickr user Roberto Ventre