What was once a plain metal recycling bin is now one of Salt Lake City鈥檚 most colorful symbols of sustainability. In a ongoing collaboration between the city, Momentum Recycling, and local artist聽Josh Sheuerman, a public glass recycling drop-off bin has been transformed into a striking mural celebrating Utah鈥檚 natural beauty.
Painted with a sweeping Uinta landscape of aspen trees, blue skies, and the iconic Red Castle, the mural brings new life to an everyday fixture. What used to blend in now stands out 鈥� inviting residents to see recycling in a vibrant way that can inspire pride, care, and participation. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 art for a gallery wall,鈥� said artist聽Josh Sheuerman. 鈥淭he landscape is a reminder of what鈥檚 at stake 鈥� and what鈥檚 being preserved. If painting a mountain on a recycling bin helps protect the real ones, then the art is doing its job.鈥�
By turning a functional object into a piece of public art, the project beautifies its surroundings, deters graffiti, and draws positive attention to one of the city鈥檚 most effective recycling programs. 鈥淪alt Lake City has long valued both聽sustainability and public art. This project brings those values together in a tangible way,鈥� said a city spokesperson. 鈥淏y changing how a recycling bin looks, we change how people think about recycling itself.鈥�
With eight muraled bins in rotation, the public can see similar murals of mountain sports, Arches National Park, and other iconic Utah scenes cycling through public drop off locations such as Sugarhouse Park, Liberty Park, Trolley Square, and Fairmont Park. Recycling glass plays a critical role in reducing landfill waste and conserving energy and raw materials. Glass can be recycled endlessly, and it becomes a valuable resource for manufacturing.
City partner Momentum Recycling keeps this resource local, processing the glass into clean cullet used by regional businesses for fiberglass insulation, sandblast media, and filtration systems 鈥� supporting both environmental protection and the local economy. Salt Lake City isn鈥檛 just recycling glass. It鈥檚聽upcycling the way residents see recycling itself.