Recycling art celebrates local community leaders, TV stars and youngsters

The posters, created by artist Freddie Yauner in partnership with Islington Council, are being displayed at key outdoor sites across the borough. They feature portraits of nine different people, drawn on an item from their recycling bin - items range from a can of evapourated milk, flour packets and a box of tea, to the borough’s own Islington Tribune newspaper.  

The posters celebrate the fact that most people in Islington are doing their bit and recycling. Participants include: 

• Giorgio Locatelli, Michellin starred chef and restauranteur  

• Thomasina Miers, Cook, Television Presenter and Co-Founder, Wahaca  

• Ray Rich, Islington resident and keen recycler 

• Natasha Palipane, GP, Highbury 

• Hussein Osman, Co-founder, Running with the Brothers  

• Cynthia James, Islington Marriage Registrar, as seen on Love is Blind 

• Zakaria Hassan, Community Leader, No More Red 

• Hana Barakzai , Year 3 pupil and keen recycler  

• Lilyella Stephens, Teacher of sewing, sustainability and art  

This project is part of Islington Council’s efforts to make it happen for a cleaner, healthier borough by encouraging local people to waste less and recycle more. 

Artist Freddie Yauner said: “For me, drawing people’s portraits on their recycling items is about bringing individual personalities to everyday items that are due to be recycled.  

“It’s about creating something beautiful from these waste products and displaying them so that people can see the objects along with an illustration of the person who is recycling them. 

“It’s inspiring to know that we can all make a difference, and I want to highlight this in a fun and surprising way.” 

Cllr Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport said: “This project is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the good work that people in Islington are doing by recycling their waste.  

“Recycling is a small and easy act that can have a big impact on the environment.  

“We are hoping that local people will notice these unusual posters, and take on board the positive messaging that most people do recycle and that it is an everyday behaviour. And hopefully anyone who doesn’t currently recycle will be encouraged to do so!”