BARNEGAT – Be on the lookout for some fancy new art in town – murals that just happen to be painted on two recycling igloos. In collaboration with the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management, Barnegat High School art students have redefined the concepts of “reuse” and “renew.” They’ve proven that even the most mundane objects can become masterpieces.
The talented junior and senior high school students who worked on the project are all in advanced placement art classes and are National Art Honor Society members. Their advisors, art teachers Astin Williams and Nina Polcino, guided them through the creative process.
“The students submitted designs to us in drawing form,” said Polcino. “We sent them over to the county, who said they liked their ideas, and we went from there.”
Williams added that the students took time to research the local scenery as well as species native to the Barnegat Bay area. The focus resulted in a unique blend of creativity, environmental awareness and responsibility.
Transforming the recycling igloos into works of art presented unique challenges. Each six-foot-tall, 100-pound igloo required careful handling and preparation. The students used a special outdoor metal paint provided by Ocean County Waste Management, mixing their own colors from a base set of primary hues. Before applying the paint, they meticulously sketched their designs onto the igloo’s surface.
Robyn-Kate Buenaventura, Jaylisse Cruz, Kaylee Janssen, Sofia Leonard, and Isabella Martinez collaborated on a mural showcasing sea creatures and shells. Meanwhile, Mikayla Zimerla created a design featuring Old Barney, the iconic Barnegat Lighthouse, visible from the Barnegat Municipal Docks. A red fox and a migratory bird also appear on the igloo Mikayla designed. The two works of art appear on separate igloos.
In 2022, the Ocean County Art and Sustainability Program began its quest to beautify the igloos and promote recycling through art. The Ocean County Clean Communities Program, a subprogram from the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management, sponsors the project. So far, twelve igloos have been artistically enhanced and strategically placed where they will draw attention.
“We have igloos set up throughout the county that collect plastic bottles and other recyclables,” said Margaret J. Deleon-Rivera, who works for Ocean County Solid Waste Management in the Recycling area. “We’re just trying to have them decorated and look more aesthetically pleasing so people respect what they’re there for and use them more.”
Ocean County Waste Management first introduced recycling igloos in 1989 and now has over 100 of them placed county-wide. A crane truck makes rounds to empty the igloos by hooking onto their tops and lifting them over a container. The contents are then emptied through a trap door at the bottom.
The igloos decorated by the Barnegat High School students are expected to be set up within the municipality. No clear location has yet been identified, although the local bay beach and docks appear to be likely spots.
On October 25, the students received recognition for their creativity when county officials visited Barnegat High School to present certificates and host a special breakfast in their honor. “These students did more than decorate – they created public art with a purpose,” said Deleon-Rivera. “Their work turns ordinary recycling containers into beautiful reminders to care for our environment.”
