Friday, June 24, 2016 was the last day that the MIRA Trash Museum (previously, CRRA Trash Museum) was open to the public. The Trash Museum on Murphy Road opened its doors in 1992.

As you would expect, the museum provided information about recycling, upcycling, composting, recovering energy, reducing food waste, along with descriptions of the different types of landfills. The Temple of Trash gave visitors the chance to be grossed out, or to get nostalgic over relics like AOL discs, old cleaning products, toys, and board games. Trashion Fashion outfits were displayed in the gift shop.

Visitors had the chance to go on a scavenger hunt or make arts and crafts. The upper floor included views into the working recycling area; visitors were encouraged to wave at the workers, who would wave right back.

Staying true to the mission, parts of the museum will be packed up and sent to other institutions to be kept in use.

For those who missed the opportunity to check out the space while they could, here’s a glimpse:

 

found in the Temple of Trash

 

Temple of Trash

 

Temple of Trash

 

Temple of Trash

 

 

View of people working

 

“Bales” of newspapers and other materials in an upper room reveal part of the recycling process to visitors

 

Spotted on the “bale” of newspapers, this one from April 28, 1999

 

 

 

 

Various buildings were created by Curtis Thrall, who listed wood, wire, foam, electrical parts, cardboard, clear plastic, and paint (all reused, upcycled, etc.) as sculpture materials.