Student Artwork

September 24, 2023

Student creations now adorn waste cans on the Tiburon Peninsula thanks to the Painted Bins project, which aims to reduce food waste through access and education.

Maintenance workers from Tiburon and Belvedere were busy this week installing the new bins, which feature 19 posters created by local school children. A ceremony to present the work is set for 4 p.m. Sunday at Tiburon’s Fountain Plaza. The art will be displayed on new compost and recycling bins planned for public spaces in town.

“The whole idea is to have people stop, look and learn,” said Kathy Huber, the founder of Painted Bins. “And to be inspired.”

The artwork was created by Bel Aire elementary, Del Mar middle and Saint Hilary school students. A total of 75 posters were displayed in a community art show, where 19 were chosen by an independent jury to be displayed on seven recycling and compost bins — five for downtown Tiburon and two in Belvedere Community Park. The posters communicate the importance of recycling and composting.

The Painted Bins project is run through Sustainable Marin, a environmental nonprofit with chapters in San Rafael, Mill Valley and Novato.

The program kicked off in April of 2022 with eight bins in Corte Madera.