10,000 Pounds of Trash to Treasure: The TBT Project's Inaugural Beautification Contest

What happens when you combine environmental cleanup, competitive art, and community giving? On this episode of the Mount Pleasant Podcast, host Brian Cleary talks with Jim Haag, President and Director of The Beautification Transformation Project (TBT Project). Drawing on his background from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Jim launched this unique initiative after noticing heavy debris piling up along local corridors like Highway 17 and Rifle Range Road.

At its core, TBT is about reimagining our relationship with the environment by turning "waste into wonder". Jim’s vision is to create a repeatable model that can be taken to cities nationwide. By proving that roadside blight can be harvested as a raw medium for high-quality sculpture, the project aims to transform the way communities view litter—shifting the narrative from a simple cleanup task to a creative opportunity that supports both the local arts economy and those in need.

For this year's inaugural Mount Pleasant competition, the project is focusing on three key areas:

Supporting the Arts: Creating a competitive art contest for local high schoolers, college students, and professionals using recycled materials.

Helping the Environment: Launching a massive August cleanup to pull 10,000 pounds of litter from Mount Pleasant roadsides.

Giving Back: Partnering with local businesses to display the final sculptures, which will be auctioned off to benefit the MUSC Children’s Hospital.

Get Involved: Want to showcase your creativity or support the cause? Visit TBTProject.org to submit your entry for the inaugural art contest or learn how your business can become an official project sponsor!