NYC, Mack Trucks unveil winning artwork

New York City’s sanitation department (DSNY) and its Sanitation Foundation nonprofit partner celebrated the debut of five hand-painted Mack LR refuse trucks as part of their Trucks of Art program. 

Each of the trucks now will go to a sanitation garage to begin collecting refuse in the city’s five boroughs.

2026 Trucks of Art winners

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1. Winning designs from 2026 Trucks of Art. | Courtesy Mack Trucks

Winning designs at North Plaza, Union Square

2. Winning designs from 2026 Trucks of Art. | Courtesy Mack Trucks

3. Lauren Stewart’s truck was inspired by Lady Liberty, spring tulips and the constant motion of the city, celebrating New York’s pride, grit and beauty from a distance. | Courtesy Mack Trucks

4. The truck from Thought Matter, an NYC design and creative studio, honors city sanitation workers by making their labor visible and turning everyday street encounters into moments of respect, patience and shared responsibility, celebrating care in action. | Courtesy Mack Trucks

5. Allison Bouganim’s truck was inspired by postage stamps, discarded objects and the hidden stories of everyday life. | Courtesy Mack Trucks

Allison Bouganim

6. Allison Bouganim’s truck will serve Brooklyn Community District 10. Also pictured: DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson | Courtesy Mack Trucks

7. Courtesy Mack Trucks

8. Catherine Witherwax’s truck was inspired by Pac-Man, using humor to highlight the skill, persistence and importance of sanitation work. Replacing fruit with food waste and ghosts with rats, the design offers a playful reminder of what’s at stake in keeping the city clean. | Courtesy Mack Trucks

The department received more than 400 submissions to paint designs on the trucks, centering on themes of cleanliness, recycling, composting and honoring sanitation workers. The selection panel included film director Nicholas Heller (NY Nico) and Bravo personality Andy Cohen.

The painting took place over seven days at DSNY’s repair shop in Queens. The event itself was also a zero-waste challenge — artists used recycled, unwanted paint collected from New Yorkers.

“At the Sanitation Foundation, we believe every New Yorker has a role to play in caring for this city,” said Caryl Englander, chairwoman of the Sanitation Foundation. “Trucks of Art is a visible reminder of that shared responsibility, celebrating New York-based artists, local communities, and the DSNY workers who help care for our city every day.”

Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America, said, “As part of New York’s Strongest, the workers of the DSNY help keep New York City clean for its residents, which is no easy task considering each day 12,000 tons of garbage is collected. Mack is proud that the Mack LR is able to help them accomplish this, and we’re also proud to sponsor Trucks of Art to help celebrate local artists, sustainability and the people who keep New York clean.”

DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson said, “Department of Sanitation collection trucks perform a critical task, removing the 24 million pounds of material New York City residents set out every day. At the same time, they are an integral part of New York City’s streetscape, and by commissioning local artists to turn these trucks into roving works of art, DSNY and the Sanitation Foundation are uplifting neighborhoods, showcasing local artistic talent and reminding New Yorkers to help us keep our city clean.”