Ahead of the annual G7 summit, an art installation dubbed ‘Mount Recyclemore’ was created by recommerce brand, Decluttr and its parent company, musicMagpie in partnership with artist Joe Rush, aiming to shed light on the problem of electronic waste and the importance that world leaders address its growing threat to the environment.

June 10, 2021

12 Slides

World leaders attending the G7 summit in Cornwall, U.K. will be greeted with a giant Mount Rushmore-style sculpture of the G7 leaders’ heads made from e-waste.

The sculpture, named Mount Recyclemore, aims to highlight discarded electronics as leaders of many of the world’s most advanced economies prepare to discuss how to tackle climate change and build a greener future.

Depicting world leaders including President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the e-waste sculpture has been created by Decluttr, parent company, musicMagpie, and artist and founder of the Mutoid Waste Company, Joe Rushalongside sculptor Alex Wreckage.

British artist, Joe Rush, is well-known for his art pieces that focus on environmental issues, creating thought provoking pieces that reveal the impact that humans are having on our planet. With the G7 summit ahead, Rush partnered with Decluttr to raise awareness of the dire need for a circular economy and a more sustainable way to buy, rent and sell consumer tech.

The arresting installation has been erected following research showing that the G7 nations alone produce almost 15.9 million metric tons of e-waste a year, with the US (6.9m), Japan (2.6m), Germany (1.6m) and UK (1.6m) being the worst offenders. 

The current 53 million metric tons of e-waste generated annually worldwide will more than double by 2050, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the world, according to the U.N.

View the slideshow to see images of the art installation.

 

Stay in the Know - Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Join a network of more than 90,000 waste and recycling industry professionals. Get the latest news and insights straight to your inbox. Free.

You May Also Like