Waste to Wonder: Help Create North Sydney's Christmas Beetles

One hundred kilos of plastic waste will be transformed by artist Amy Claire Mills into 10 large-scale Christmas Beetle sculptures as part of the Big Beetle Summer project. The beetles will appear in Ted Mack Civic Park between December 2026 and January 2027. 

Community members can donate their recycled plastics at Council Chambers and North Sydney Community Centre. 

Which plastics can be donated?  

Bring along your rigid High Density Polyethylene plastics (HDPE 2). Think hard, sturdy plastic that won’t scrunch or bend, like milk or laundry liquid bottles. Check the recycling symbol on the bottom of your plastic item to see if it’s suitable. Unfortunately, items without a recycling code cannot be accepted. Bottle lids can also be recycled, but check them separately, as they're often a different plastic (HDPE 2 or PP 5). 

How to donate your plastics:  

• Remove any labels or stickers 

• Wash your plastics in a simple soapy wash  

• Dry your items completely 

• Bring your plastics to one of our collection points and look for the special Christmas Beetle bins 

Community Workshops 

Pop-up workshops for the community will run throughout summer 2026/27 kicking off with a launch event on December 5th in Ted Mack Civic Park. Keep an eye on Council’s website and the Big Beetle project website for workshop dates and registrations. Workshops will feature: 

• Artist Amy Claire Mills 

• Wiradjuri artist Bria McCarthy  

• Christmas Beetle scientist Tanya Latty  

• Sustainability champions Defy Design  

About the project  

The project celebrates the iconic Australian Christmas Beetle and highlights the importance of protecting local ecology while embracing circular economy principles. Once the project ends, sculpture materials will be returned to their original state for reuse.  

"Christmas Beetles are such strange, beautiful little creatures. They're iridescent, shimmering and just a little bit clumsy,” Amy Claire Mills said. 

“Through art, community and science, we can help researchers better understand where Christmas Beetles are still thriving and protect their habitats.”   

About the artist 

Amy Claire Mills is a textile and installation artist, space maker, and creative producer based in Gadigal/Sydney, and she’s bringing the Big Beetle Summer to life. She loves creating colourful, immersive worlds that invite people to explore, connect and become part of the artwork. As a Neurodivergent and Disabled artist, Amy creates spaces that platform and amplify Disabled, Deaf and Neurodivergent artists.   

Big Beetle Summer was selected through a competitive Expression of Interest process seeking festive public artworks that activate public spaces, invite community participation and reflecting North Sydney’s unique identity. 

Residents are encouraged to start collecting eligible plastics and drop them off at Council collection locations in the coming weeks. 

Project website: https://www.amyclairemills.com/bigbeetlesummer

Note to Editors 

Collection Point Information 

The community can donate plastics at:  

• North Sydney Council Chambers Customer Service 

Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060 

• North Sydney Community Centre 

220 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060