Definition:

PMs are composed of the time and resources and stories of the past and hold potential for the future. We believe this is what makes these materials endlessly interesting and we find ourselves surrendering wholly and completely to the allure of the trash.

Persistent Material (PM): Any material that is here to stay, whether through careful intention or because we haven’t figured out how to get rid of it yet. 

We connect:

The person who has paused before throwing something in the trash and thought “This thing is cool, someone must be able to do something with it.” 

with 

The person who can find the hidden potential in an unexpected object or material

Have a material or want a material? See Get Involved

We learn together:

  • How and why are things made? 

  • What typically happens to this material in the waste stream?

  • How has it been used culturally and historically? 

  • How can we find new ways to use this material?

Connect with us through our Newsletter or come to an Event

We bring to light, not obscure: 

We want people to feel connected to what happens to their materials and our reuse and recycling solutions are always an open conversation. We are also realistic about what we haven’t figured out a solution for and only accept PMs that we have a clear and immediate plan for. 

See our Materials page for more

We are a place for people:

We have so many ideas for bringing together people who are excited about and inspired by Persistent Materials. 

Check out What’s Next to see where we’d like to go!

Heart shaped rock with two wooden wings

Persistent Materials is currently Rachel and Zoë, two friends and residents of West Philly who met while working in recycling and have been dreaming Persistent Materials up ever since! We love wacky museums, community gardens, and long walks on the beach.