Maidstone Borough Council is using the latest addition to its refuse vehicle fleet to encourage residents to recycle and highlight its commitment to creating a cleaner, greener borough.
The new 26t vehicle, which has been wrapped by CVW and emblazoned with ‘The Big Green Recycling Machine’ is sure to turn heads as it carries out recycling collections.
The eye-catching design was inspired by the two winners of an art competition run in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council and SUEZ. Adults and children from across the area were invited to submit their artwork to encourage people to recycle. Over 500 entries were received and after sorting through hundreds of entries the judges whittled it down to two designs which were submitted by Becky Planck, a primary school art teacher and resident artist, and Zak, a pupil at St Simon Stock Catholic School. CVW’s design team adapted the winning designs to achieve maximum coverage across the entire vehicle.
Councillor Clive English, Maidstone Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement, said:
“Our recycling vehicles are out in our communities every day, so they’re a powerful way to grab attention and start conversations. Eye‑catching designs help people stop, notice, and think about what happens to their waste once it’s collected. If seeing a vehicle pass by encourages even one household to recycle more or recycle better, then it’s doing an important job in supporting a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Maidstone.”
In October 2025 the Council introduced a fully electric refuse vehicle, Binosaurus Rex, to its fleet. The vehicle was wrapped by CVW in bright dinosaur graphics and the slogan “From fossils to the future, Maidstone is ROARING towards net zero,” to reflect the council’s determination to move away from fossil fuels and embrace sustainable solutions. The council is promising to share residents’ pictures of The Big Green Recycling Machine or Binosaurs Rex out on rounds on Instagram or Facebook if they tag Maidstone Borough Council.
Jonathan Thomas, Managing Director, Creative Vehicle Wrapping, said:
“Refuse vehicles are like slow moving billboards, and Maidstone Borough Council is doing a great job of using these vehicles to communicate with residents and raise awareness about recycling and sustainability.”
An Avery Dennison accredited Specialist Converter and Installer, and the UK market leader in refuse vehicle wrapping CVW provides a one-stop shop for wrap design, printing and installation. The company has its own fully equipped installation unit and has built a reputation for creating impactful wrap campaigns for commercial fleets. CVW has achieved both ISO9001 Quality Management and ISO14001 Environmental Management certifications.
For more information about CVW Tel: 03330 150510; email sales@creativevehiclewrapping.co.uk; visit www.creativevehiclewrapping.co.uk
