A community-led solution to a rubbish problem

In response to increasing concerns about fly-tipping and waste, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste have partnered up to change the way people think about rubbish.

The result is an unusual art project, Love St Paul’s, which saw youth groups in the area design and decorate bins with their own artwork.

Using crayons, pens and splashes of paint, children drew pictures of fictional superheroes and catchy slogans and designed funny clothes for cut-out figures using different materials.

Through a series of craft workshops, and with the help of local artist Deborah Weinreb, they were encouraged to talk about waste, litter and fly-tipping and how to improve the streets of St Paul’s.

Jahmeil Smart with his artwork – photo: Chris Bahn

Sylvia Vincent from Imayla also helped with the project. The St Paul’s-based charity offers fun and learning opportunities for young people by combining creative arts and environmental activities inspired by the natural environment.

Sylvia stressed the importance of involving young people in the conversations surrounding waste and recycling, saying: “Clean open spaces are vital for our children to enjoy themselves in Bristol.

“If children in the St Paul’s youth projects could change anything in the area, it would be to stop fly-tipping, increase recycling and remove litter on the street.

“The project allowed children to explore themes around the environment, with discussions about the litter in St Paul’s and the importance of respecting our neighbourhoods, presenting an opportunity for children to make a tangible difference in their own communities.”

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Bristol Waste hopes the bin art will enhance the St Paul’s area and inspire discussions about litter.

Speaking about the importance of the project, Jak Boydon who works on Bristol Waste’s community engagement programme, said: “Keeping Bristol clean and tidy is at the heart of what we do.

“We believe that by working together with the communities, the council and Bristol Waste, we can make a real, positive impact on the areas we live and work in.

“We hope this project adds to the vibrancy of the area and changes the way people think about their waste. If ‘Love St Paul’s’ is a success, we hope to replicate it in different areas of Bristol to help improve neighbourhoods across the city.”

Bristol Waste, community members, residents, councillors and artists come together to celebrate the launch of Love St Paul’s – photo: Chris Bahn

Fly-tipping has been a consistent grumble for Bristol residents. The most recent figures from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) revealed that 9,286 incidents of fly-tipping were recorded across the Bristol area from 2020 to 2021 – the equivalent of one every hour.

This is a significant rise from 8,655 reports of illegally-dumped rubbish in 2019 to 2020, and 7,772 cases the year before.

Kye Dudd, Labour’s cabinet member briefing for climate, ecology, energy and waste said: “Fly-tipping is dangerous, unsightly and an unnecessary blight on our beautiful city. The Love St Paul’s project shows that by working together, we can collectively make a real difference in cleaning up the streets of Bristol.

“This project will help make sure St Paul’s is a clean and safe space for everyone to enjoy. We are proud to be a part of something that has captured the creativity and vision of young people in the area to help tackle an issue that they can say affects them.”

Main photo: Deborah Weinreb and Sylvia Vincent by Chris Bahn

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