Can recycling be fun?

Recycle Week is taking place in Wales from 17-23 June celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has the theme 'Recycling - at home and away'. Especially the "away" part sounds interesting to me as I've often noticed the lack of bins in some places whilst on a day trip or the lack of effort by people to actually go to one and use it.

There are many different ways councils and other public places try to encourage people to recycle more or even use litter bins. A couple of years back we were involved in developing 'Enviroman' for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council - from initial concept to final illustration and costume.

Enviroman illustration

Enviroman costume

A different approach in the fight against carelessly discarded litter was taken by the city of Lucerne, Switzerland in 201. 16 litter bins were turned into games to make citizens more aware of the problem and make it more fun to use litter bins.

Lucerne's game approach. Copyright Manuela Jans/Neue LZ

Copyright Manuela Jans/Neue LZ

Personally, I really liked the talking litter bins "Holle Bolle Gijs" in the theme park 'Efteling', Netherlands whilst on a visit in the 1990s. These little gems are spread arround the park and ask you to feed them "Paper here! Paper here!". Once fed they thank you as well.

Efteling "Holle Bolle Gijs"

Another "Holle Bolle Gijs" in Efteling

"Paper here!"

And as this is somehow about urban living, finally a bit of street art by Timm Schneider