Have you noticed the vibrant new garbage trucks cruising through Shellharbour? Shellharbour City Council (SCC) has introduced a parade of vibrant murals on their fleet, transforming the mundane task of waste collection into an engaging visual experience. These eye-catching trucks, featuring coffee cups shredding on skateboards, nature-loving avocados, and chatty pizza boxes, make sorting waste an unexpectedly fun activity.

SCC is excited to officially launch its latest initiative, "Waste: Let's Get it Sorted!" This colourful campaign aims to educate the community about waste management, promote sustainable habits, and inspire lasting change in how residents handle their waste.

To bring this vision to life, SCC partnered with street artist and digital illustrator ‘Happy Decay’. Together, they have created a series of lively characters that practically leap off the trucks and into the hearts of the community. Each mural is designed not only to capture attention but also to help residents easily identify kerbside waste streams, including FOGO, recycling, and general waste.

Bjarni Wark, the artist behind Happy Decay, shared his enthusiasm for the project: "This was such a fun project, helping to educate and create a positive awareness around waste through art,” he said.

Bjarni Wark, the artist behind Happy Decay.

“I hope the murals make these trucks a pleasure to see coming up the street.” 

“The idea is that by sorting our waste more effectively, we get to live in a cleaner environment. Hopefully, in time, people will start to recognise these friendly characters and associate them with the correct bin they belong in, in a positive way."

The murals debuted on the city's waste trucks earlier this year. Beyond the trucks, these lively designs will feature in printed signs and animated videos, becoming a central part of waste-related materials citywide. This broad integration is intended to foster intrigue and strengthen brand recognition.

Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer praised the initiative: "Our new waste education campaign not only brightens up our streets with fantastic artwork but also plays a crucial role in educating our community about proper waste management,” he said. 

“By making waste fun and engaging, we're fostering a culture of sustainability that will benefit Shellharbour for years to come."

With this innovative approach, SCC is not only beautifying the city but also instilling sustainable practices in a fun and memorable way.