Graffiti artists makeover recycling company at annual festival

TRENTON, NJ (WPVI) — TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company, is known for its creative approach to reduce and reuse. This includes the walls of their own headquarters, which they have lent to local artists over the years as an ever-changing canvas.

While artists can be spotted in Trenton year-round, summertime draws crowds to the annual Jersey Fresh Jam. Today’s event was the 17th edition of the graffiti community’s all-day festival.

“You know, it really helped the graffiti scene and the art scene to take root here in Trenton because it gave us a place to bring people from New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC together,” said artist Leon Rainbow, the organizer of the event. “Everything they’ve been working on over the past year since the last Jersey Fresh, they’re trying to put it together and do something great.”

Rainbow was fascinated by graffiti growing up in the 1980’s and has since helped build a colorful community of artists in Trenton. His event welcomes street performers, disc jockeys, breakers and hip-hop fans to celebrate their common interests.

Artist Robert Ortiz sees the event as a space for collaboration to overcome the competition.

“It’s a lot different now than it was in the ’80s, for me anyway,” Ortiz said. “Now I like to think there’s a lot more camaraderie with the graffiti community.”

Booming music and glittering spray paint invite artists and guests to join in the fun and learn about the recycling mission at the heart of the setting.

“TerraCycle’s goal is to eliminate the idea of ​​waste,” said Founder and CEO Tom Szaky. “What we’re known for is trying to collect and recycle hard-to-recycle things, helping companies make their products out of waste, and even switching to reusable packaging.”

To learn more about TerraCycle and their creative recycling programs, visit their website.

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