Children asked to create art for new waste and recycling vehicles

Primary school children living in the South Hams have the chance to have their artwork emblazoned on the district’s waste and recycling vehicles thanks to a new competition celebrating "the importance of recycling".

South Hams District Council is inviting young artists to paint or draw a picture that shows either:

• Why recycling is important – perhaps their artwork could show why recycling helps protect our beaches, our countryside, or the wider global environment
• How to recycle – children can choose a particular material we recycle at the kerbside – cardboard, plastic, glass, food, etc – and do a drawing on how to recycle it, whether that’s in the green recycling boxes, white recycling sack or food caddy

The winning designs will be proudly displayed on the doors of one of the council’s new waste and recycling vehicles – the winning artists will also get their names emblazoned on the vehicle for the next 12 months.

Cllr Julian Brazil, South Hams Lead Member for Waste & Recycling, said: “Recycling is one of the simplest things we can all do at home to help protect our environment, and we think that our school children can help inspire us to all recycle even more.

“I can’t wait to see the imagination and enthusiasm that South Hams primary school children bring to this subject.”

Criteria for entry to the art competition:

• Entries will be categorised by school year group – from Year 1 through to Year 6
• Children must submit their entries in landscape on A4 paper.
• Judges are looking for creativity, a clear message and eye-catching designs that help inspire others.
• Budding artists are asked to either paint their picture or use bright felt-tip pens for a drawing, not pencils.
• Include your name, age, your primary school and school year group, parent/guardian’s name and contact information (email address, telephone)

You can enter both competition in one of three ways:

• Post your entry to South Hams District Council Recycling Competition, South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5NE
• Drop your entry into the reception at Follaton House in Totnes
• Email a digital version of your artwork or your name suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Entries close on 13 November 2026.