Yavapai News

SEDONA, Ariz. – This summer, the city’s BigBelly smart waste and recycling receptacles will feature climate change-themed artwork created by students from West Sedona School. The initiative is part of an effort to enhance sustainability education within local schools.

The project is a collaboration between Sarah Estrada, the City of Sedona Sustainability Coordinator, and Sara Horton, a teacher at West Sedona School. An art challenge was organized for students to create pieces that illustrate Sedona’s natural landscape and propose actions to protect the environment. Each grade was assigned a specific topic for their artwork, with two winners selected per grade:

- Kindergarten (recycling): Patrick McInnis and Andrew Villalobos

- First grade (air quality): Eleina Arizmendi and Emma Rabago

- Second grade (land, plants, and animals): Lillian Morris and Piper Wagner

- Third grade (water): Emerson Borgognone and Arabella Griffis

- Fourth grade (energy): Cristina Guzman Hernandez and Melody Medina

- Fifth grade (sustainability): Andrea Guadarrama Gonzalez and Jaylah Maldonado

The 12 winning artworks will be displayed on the receptacles around town starting this summer. Additionally, prints of these pieces will be exhibited at the Sedona Public Library from August 5 to 17, 2024.

Background information reveals that ten BigBelly waste receptacles were installed throughout Sedona in the fall of 2023. These receptacles aim to collect waste data, improve maintenance collection efficiency rates, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This summer, ten additional recycling receptacles will be installed to enhance waste diversion efforts across the city. They will also collect recycling data and share climate-action messaging on their side panels.

For more information on the city’s Sustainability Department programs, visit www.sedonaaz.gov/sustainability.