Multiple giant trolls made out of trash will be built near N.J.’s ‘Big Rusty’

South Jersey will soon be home to not just one giant troll made out of recycled trash, but more than a dozen.

Burlington County is looking for local artists to install at least 13 troll statues, inspired by “Big Rusty,” a 20-foot troll that has been living in Hainesport Township since last summer.

As part of a larger sculpture series to promote sustainability, last July, Thomas Dambo, a Copenhagen-based artist, created Big Rusty from thousands of recycled materials sourced from an abandoned ceramic factory in the township.

Once the statue opened to the public, it became a popular attraction, drawing many visitors outdoors to the South Branch Rancocas Creek section of the town to see the troll.

Big Rusty was created as part of a sculpture series where Dambo and a team of about 20 builders and local volunteers installed 10 different trolls in locations across the state to raise awareness for environmental responsibility.

“I hope that this will leave a meaningful (impact) that will encourage people to come out and… find some beautiful art and remember that together we can think big and make things happen with our trash,” Dambo previously told NJ Advance Media.

Big Rusty’s message and impact made an impression on Burlington County, inspiring local officials to want to expand the mission by launching their own “Troll Trek,” Felicia Hopson, the county commissioner director, said in a statement announcing the news last month.

“Burlington County welcomes new residents from across the globe, including trash-consuming trolls,” Hopson said.

“We love the statue so much, that we decided to ask some artists to create some more trolls so Big Rusty isn’t alone. It’s a great initiative that celebrates art, recycling and community,” she added.

The county’s park systems and commissioners are partnering with local towns and organizations to find artists to build their own trolls for a trek that will take visitors through various locations within the county where the sculptures will be erected.

By June, artists are asked to submit original designs of trolls made out of recycled materials or trash. A stipend of $500 will be awarded to each artist to help cover materials and installation expenses, officials said.

The sculptures must be at least 4 feet high and not copies of Big Rusty, officials said. Artists will also be able to select preferred areas for their installations, but they must be located either in downtown locations or in parks.

Selected proposals will be announced in June and building will begin by mid-September, the county announced.

And by the end of September, the troll trek and its at least 13 sculptures are scheduled to be unveiled, officials said.

Although Big Rusty has been vandalized before, the county expects little vandalism for the new trolls, as past outdoor sculpture initiatives rarely had incidents, officials said.

Most residents enjoy and appreciate the art and are respectful towards it, Dave Levinsky, Burlington County’s spokesperson, said on Thursday.

“We are going to be looking to have trolls placed in locations where they can be easily monitored, and we will also encourage artists to make sure the trolls are securely installed,” Levinsky said.

Troll treks have emerged around the world and usually refer to outdoor journeys that involve searching for and discovering troll statues or sculptures in natural settings. Dambo, who has created more than 100 other troll sculptures globally, included Big Rusty in a larger, nationwide troll trek where Hainesport was the starting point for a storyline promoting sustainability.

In Dambo’s tale, Big Rusty is a monster troll that continues to grow with the more trash it eats.

“It’ll continue growing forever because there’s so much trash,” Dambo said.

Burlington County’s goal for their local troll trek is to not only support the arts and local artists but also encourage more people to think about recycling and reusing items before discarding them, Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel said in a statement.

“Big Rusty shows us how used materials and other items commonly thought of as trash can be repurposed and reused to create something new, much like the bottles, papers and cans we recycle every day,” Eckel said. “We hope these new trolls help amplify that message.”

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Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com.