Kattappana municipality installed a 12-foot Spider-Man sculpture to raise awareness about waste management. The figure, crafted from 5,000 plastic bottles, stands outside the municipal office. "Signboards rarely get noticed, but this Spider-Man figure draws children, families, and passersby," said chairman Joy Vettikkuzhi. The project encourages residents to rethink plastic use.
The municipality has installed a 12-foot Spider-Man-like sculpture, crafted entirely from plastic bottles and other recyclable materials collected from bottle booths, in front its office
To raise awareness about waste management among students and the general public, the Kattappana municipality in Idukki has taken a creative approach: installing a 12-foot Spider-Man-like sculpture in front of the municipal office.
The installation was crafted entirely from plastic bottles and other recyclable materials collected from bottle booths across the municipality.
According to officials, the Marvel superhero was chosen specifically to engage younger generations and highlight the importance of waste management for a cleaner future.
'Waste to Art' initiative
"The Spider-Man-like figure was set up as part of the 'Waste to Art' initiative led by the Suchitwa Mission and the municipality. Artist Rajeev Chellanam designed and sculpted the figure," said Aatly P. John, the municipality's clean city manager.
Kattappana municipality health inspector Anupriya K.S. stated that the sculpture stands 12 feet tall and required approximately 5,000 plastic bottles to construct.
"It took two weeks to complete the figure, and the Suchitwa Mission sanctioned ₹1 lakh in funding for the creative initiative," Ms. Anupriya said.
Ms. Anupriya further noted that the colourful bottles immediately caught the attention of local children. "Children curious about the colourful structure often ask if it is really a Spider-Man made of bottles, opening up an immediate conversation about recycling and reuse," she said, adding that the municipality plans to conduct 'Waste to Art' workshops for local students.
The broader message
Kattappana municipal chairman Joy Vettikkuzhi emphasised the broader message behind the project: "When discarded carelessly, a plastic bottle simply becomes litter. But when it is repurposed into art, it encourages people to rethink how they treat plastic and non-biodegradable waste. Our goal is to drive home that message through this installation," Mr. Vettikkuzhi said.
He noted that standard warning signs or informational boards in public spaces often go ignored.
"Signboards rarely get noticed, but this Spider-Man figure draws children, families, and passersby. People take photos, share them on social media, and naturally start talking about waste management," he added.
Municipal premises generate tonnes of waste every month, much of it single-use plastic. Officials hope the creative installation inspires residents to curb their plastic consumption and stop littering in public areas.