Rusty barbecues, dented wheelbarrows, worn-out pruning shears… What if your old gardening and DIY tools were transformed into monumental sculptures? That’s the bold challenge Ecomaison took on in 2025 with the Recycl’expo. This year, the exhibition—featuring fun activities—is touring nearly 100 cities across France for three months, starting March 7, to revolutionize our relationship with recycling.
Recycling takes on an unexpected artistic dimension
That old rusty barbecue at the bottom of the garden? That wheelbarrow that has seen better days? Ecomaison sees them differently and is launching the second edition of Recycl’expo, a national tour that challenges our preconceived ideas about recycling. The aim is to prove that behind every used object lies unexpected potential for transformation.
To convey this message, Ecomaison is continuing its partnership with Ruben Gérard, a painter and illustrator renowned for his unique visual style. His challenge is to transform DIY and gardening tools into five monumental creations that reveal their unexpected artistic potential.
Ruben Gérard transforms old tools into art
Ruben Gérard draws his inspiration from movements ranging from art deco to Japanese ukiyo, via ancient and modern sculpture and street art. For Ecomaison, he has taken up an original creative challenge: to highlight the potential of recycled DIY and gardening objects.
His five life-size creations assemble wheelbarrows, planters and hammers to create original artistic compositions. A way of showing that recycling means imagining a second life for something you thought was finished.
Art as a trigger for ecological awareness
This collaboration with Ruben Gérard carries a strong message: recycling is also an act of creation. Every used object dropped off at a dedicated collection point can become material for new objects, a support for artists, or a new form of utility.
Building on its success in 2025, Recycl'expo continues to tour France with this positive vision of recycling. This year, for three months, every Saturday and Sunday, four different cities will simultaneously host a work by Ruben and a photo exhibition showcasing this creative transformation in your DIY and/or gardening store.
Why come along? Because it's free, fun and useful!
Beyond the artistic aspect, the Recycl'expo has a concrete objective: to help you understand the re-use and recycling of DIY and gardening tools. You'll discover :
- Practical sorting gestures to adopt on a daily basis
- What are the different options for an item no longer needed?
- Where to dispose of used tools near you
- How recycling works
Come and talk to local associations to understand their role and missions in giving DIY and gardening items a second life. The Ecomaison teams will be on hand to answer questions and guide you towards suitable local solutions.
Adopting the right gestures all year round
The Recycl'expo is just the first step. The initiative aims to inspire a lasting change in our habits. Your DIY and garden tools can be dropped off all year round at dedicated collection points. They will then be sorted, repaired where possible, or recycled according to the rules of the trade.
This second life, whether artistic or practical, starts with a simple gesture: don't throw things away, but put them in the right place. The Recycl'expo gives you all the keys you need to make this a habit.
Practical information
- Starting March 7 and continuing for three months
- 4 simultaneous exhibitions every Saturday and Sunday
- Nearly 100 cities with a life-size work by Ruben Gérard and a photo exhibition
- 15 DIY and/or gardening stores participating in the campaign
- 2 fun activities to raise awareness about sorting waste
- Free admission
- Open Saturday or Sunday
To find out more about the Recycl'expo and the dates in your town :
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