Alison Burke

Volkswagen is recycling wood pallets used in the shipping of robots for its Chattanooga assembly plant via a local group that hopes some of it can be used by artists.

Alison Burke of CreateHere, which aims to spur cultural innovation in the city, said artists, architects, carpenters and others likely will be interested in the wood.

"What we're anticipating is that if this goes well, we should have regular pickup days over the course of the next year," she said.

The first pickup is scheduled for today at the Architectural Surfaces parking lot at 405 E. Main St., Ms. Burke said.

A VW official contacted the nonprofit CreateHere and said while the plant's builders had been mulching the wood, it could be reusable, Ms. Burke said.

CreateHere is acting as a liaison, making contacts with people who may be interested in the wood, she said.

"We want people who have projects," Ms. Burke said. "We will ask people about projects they're planning."

VW spokesman Scott Wilson said the German automaker is continuing efforts to reduce waste at the construction site of the plant, which is slated to start making cars in early 2011.

"CreateHere has taken it from waste to possible art," he said.