Submissions for our Recycling is a Work of Art painting contest will open on April 21st, 2026! Stay tuned!
Recycling is a Work of Art
Every year, ecomaine invites artists from across Maine to transform one of our Silver Bullets into something unexpected. These aren’t just recycling containers anymore. They become murals, statements, stories on wheels; traveling across ecomaine’s 70+ member communities and turning an everyday piece of infrastructure into public art that people actually stop to look at.
Now an ecomaine mainstay, Recycling is a Work of Art is one of our favorite traditions, and we think it shows. The work that Maine artists bring to this competition never fails to surprise us.
How it Works
Up to five artists are selected each year to paint the full exterior of one of ecomaine’s Silver Bullet recycling containers. Designs are submitted using our official spec sheets, which map out all four sides of the container to scale, so you know exactly what you’re working with before a single brushstroke hits metal. Once painted, each Silver Bullet is placed at recycling drop-off locations throughout our member communities, where it lives out in the world as a fully functional, fully beautiful piece of Maine art.
Who Can Apply
This competition is open to any person or group with a connection to Maine. Professional artists, hobbyists, students, and first-timers are all welcome. At least one member of any group submission must be a resident of one of ecomaine’s 70+ member communities. If you have a vision and something to say about Maine, we want to see it.
What Winners Receive
The selected artists will receive a $1,000 stipend to cover any expenses & supplies needed for the project. ecomaine will work with you to arrange a painting location, whether that’s a community public space or a mutually agreed-upon spot, and will deliver the Silver Bullet directly to you.
Spec Sheets
To help bring your vision to life, ecomaine provides two official Silver Bullet spec sheets, one for the long sides and one for the short sides, so you can plan your design across all four surfaces of the container. Each sheet is drawn to scale and clearly marks any areas that must remain unpainted, such as recycling instructional signs and the ecomaine logo. Spec sheets can be downloaded below as PDFs, imported into your preferred design tool, or printed at 11″ x 17″ for a hands-on approach. If you’d prefer a hard copy mailed to you, reach out to us at whitton@ecomaine.org or 207-523-3142.
Spec sheets will be downloadable here starting on April 21st, 2026!
Ready to Apply?
Submissions for 2026 open on April 21st, the day before Earth Day. Download your spec sheets, sketch out your vision, and submit your design before May 23rd. Up to five winning designs will be selected by ecomaine’s Outreach and Recycling Committee in late May and be announced in early June.
We’ve kept the process as simple as possible so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time on your art. Here’s a quick recap of everything you need to know before getting started!
Artist Eligibility
- Open to any person (including professional artists) or group.
- At least one member of any group entry must be a resident of one of ecomaine’s 70+ member communities.
Submission Requirements
- All submissions must use the official Silver Bullet spec sheet as their base, drawn by hand or created digitally on top of the provided diagram. Feel free to scale it up as needed.
- Upon request, ecomaine will mail an 11” × 17” hard copy of the entry diagram (whitton@ecomaine.org or 207-523-3142).
- Entries must cover all four sides of the Silver Bullet.
- Designs must NOT be painted over the following elements on the container: the four recycling instructional signs, the ecomaine sign on Short Side B, or any stenciled number on Short Side A.
- Artists may choose to paint (or leave unpainted) the four small sliding doors along the tops of the long sides.
- Submissions should be emailed to whitton@ecomaine.org with the following notes/files:
- Subject Line: ‘Recycling is a Work of Art Submission – [Date]’
- Attached files: Designed Silver Bullet Canvas Sheets (Short & Long), listed above, as PDF files delivered as either two separate files or a single combined file. Naming the files to include your name & ecomaine community would be greatly appreciated, but is not necessary!
- Email Body: Please list your Name, Email, Contact Number, Community you are submitting from, and a short description about your artwork & interest in the project.
Artboard & Canvas Themes
Your design should reflect the spirit of stewardship, place, and legacy in Maine. Artists are encouraged to depict what makes Maine worth protecting: its landscapes, coastlines, communities, character, and more. There is no single version of Maine, and there is no wrong way to interpret this theme. Whether your Maine is a working waterfront, a backyard garden, a city neighborhood, or a stretch of trail you’ve walked a hundred times, we want to see it! Maine is more than a place on a map. It’s the people who show up for each other, the traditions passed down through generations, and the shared understanding that what we do today shapes what this state looks like tomorrow. If that resonates with you, you’re already thinking in the right direction.
Questions? Reach us at whitton@ecomaine.org or 207-523-3142.
See What’s Possible
Over the years, Maine artists have brought an incredible range of styles, stories, and perspectives to these containers. Browse past winners and finished Silver Bullets below to get a sense of the scale, the possibilities, and just how much these things can hold.
