Bin lorries in Bratislava will be brought to life with new decals
20. 04. 2026
3 minutes read
Bratislava, 20 April 2026 – Starting in May, Bratislava’s bin lorries will be running with new colourful decals that will come to life directly on mobile phone screens. The company Odvoz a likvidácia odpadu (OLO), in cooperation with the capital city, is introducing a unique technological innovation with elements of augmented reality. Upon pointing a mobile phone at the image on the vehicle, the image will come to life and turn into a short interactive experience for children and their parents.
The project is based on children’s natural relationship with bin lorries. Many kids wait for collection day, wave to the crews from their window and recognise the arriving vehicle even before they see it on the street.
Says Miroslava Čalfová, CEO of OLO:
“For many children, bin lorries are one of the most popular things they can come across on the streets of the city. Therefore, we have designed the new decals to make this moment even more lively while also showing what is happening with waste in Bratislava in a playful way."
This is why the new decals visually represent activities that go beyond waste collection itself. OLO recycles waste into energy, from which it generates electricity and supplies heat to some Bratislava households. It sorts waste from yellow containers and returns functional items back into circulation through the Bratislava Reuse Centre KOLO.
Adds Jakub Mrva, Deputy Mayor of the Capital City of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava:
“We are modernising the city’s services, but we also want them to be closer to people. This project combines practical vehicle renovation with a small, but certainly engaging and interesting experience not only for children but also for adults, too."
The augmented reality functions through the free Artivive application, available for both Android and iOS devices. After pointing the mobile phone at the decal on a stationary vehicle or poster, a short animation is displayed. Children will be able to point their mobile phone at a bin lorry on the street at a safe but sufficient distance and watch how the colourful image on the vehicle turns into an animated story directly on the display.
The decals are also part of the gradual modernisation of the OLO fleet. The company currently operates roughly 130 vehicles, and the new lorries are gradually bringing quieter operation, lower emissions and more efficient collection planning. By the end of 2026, 26 vehicles will be adorned with the new interactive decals, and this number will gradually increase on the streets of Bratislava.
The public will be able to try out the new product for the first time at the Majáles event, which will take place on 1 – 2 May 2026 on the Tyršovo nábrežie embankment. During the event, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., visitors will be able to see the latest addition to the OLO fleet – a two-chamber vehicle – and to try out the cabin and the step, while children will take part in accompanying activities focused on waste sorting.
The project is part of the capital city’s long-term effort to bring waste management topics closer to the youngest residents of Bratislava in an understandable and playful way.
More information and animation samples are available at OLO ↗︎.