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Animated Video: How to Save the Environment in Durham – Act Consciously
New case straight from North America
This time, we were entrusted with a serious mission: not only to create an animated explainer video but also to highlight an important environmental project.
About the animation project
In Canada, there's the Durham region, currently developing a 20-year waste management plan. How?
Durham plans to build a system for mixed waste sorting and anaerobic digestion (AD), which will convert organic waste into renewable natural gas. This facility is the first of its kind in North America.
Let's break down how it works.
Currently, the population of the area is 700,000 people, with plans to reach one million by 2041. The more residents there are, the more organic waste, recyclables, and garbage will need to be managed.
Waste and organics will be collected at individual household waste collection points in eight municipalities of the Durham region: Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Brock.
Waste and organics will be collected at individual household waste collection points in eight municipalities of the Durham region: Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Brock.
Then, the waste will be transported to a complex with a robotic system that separates waste into organic and inorganic materials. Recyclables like metals, paper, glass, and plastics will be sent for recycling, while organics will be processed using anaerobic digestion (AD) technology.
Anaerobic digestion is an innovative, natural process of decomposing organic matter by microbial bacteria in the absence of oxygen. This process produces biogas, liquid compost waste, and solid residues.
Objective
Through an explainer video, inform Durham region residents about the benefits of mixed waste sorting and anaerobic digestion, explain the process, and how the new facility will integrate with the current waste management system in the region.
The animated video needed to showcase the entire lifecycle of waste recycling, from the trash bin to a renewable resource.
Challenges
Waste processing facilities often face public disapproval, especially when located near residential areas. This facility will have minimal environmental impact and mitigate climate change effects through negative pressure installations and the use of biofilters.
The presentation video had to not only inform about the waste processing plant but also clearly demonstrate the recycling process to residents unfamiliar with it, explaining how and what waste will be processed.
Anaerobic digestion is an innovative, natural process of decomposing organic matter by microbial bacteria in the absence of oxygen. This process produces biogas, liquid compost waste, and solid residues.
Objective
Through an explainer video, inform Durham region residents about the benefits of mixed waste sorting and anaerobic digestion, explain the process, and how the new facility will integrate with the current waste management system in the region.
The animated video needed to showcase the entire lifecycle of waste recycling, from the trash bin to a renewable resource.
Challenges
Waste processing facilities often face public disapproval, especially when located near residential areas. This facility will have minimal environmental impact and mitigate climate change effects through negative pressure installations and the use of biofilters.
The presentation video had to not only inform about the waste processing plant but also clearly demonstrate the recycling process to residents unfamiliar with it, explaining how and what waste will be processed.
Working on the Project: How Our Animation Studio Specialists Became Canadian Residents for Several Months
This was an unusual project. Firstly, the explainer's client was not a commercial company but a Canadian municipality, bringing its own nuances and, of course, delays. Secondly, it required deep immersion into the process and subject matter.
To ensure residents connected with the project through the animated video, we aimed to authentically convey the atmosphere and locale of the area, making it recognizable at first glance. Mind you, we've never been to Canada, so we studied the geography through Google Maps, photos, websites, and articles. We gathered enough material to confidently pass as locals if we ever visit.
For instance, by studying Canada's nature, we depicted fir trees and mountainous terrains with slopes and fields in the animation.
To ensure residents connected with the project through the animated video, we aimed to authentically convey the atmosphere and locale of the area, making it recognizable at first glance. Mind you, we've never been to Canada, so we studied the geography through Google Maps, photos, websites, and articles. We gathered enough material to confidently pass as locals if we ever visit.
For instance, by studying Canada's nature, we depicted fir trees and mountainous terrains with slopes and fields in the animation.
In creating the plant prototype and illustrating trash bins, we approached 2D animation with detail, basing our designs on real photos of the facilities.
When illustrating the organic waste recycling process, we deliberately depicted corn and tomatoes growing after fertilization. These crops are among the most widely cultivated in the country and particularly in the Durham region.
For example, corn production in Canada averages between 8.8 and 11.6 million tons annually. In Durham, agriculture is the second-largest industry. The sector has evolved from traditional commodity crops to new biomass crops for next-generation energy, biofuels, and biogas production.
To create an authentic waste management specialist, including his uniform, vehicle, and other details, we based our designs on real photos from Canada, ensuring accuracy and realism in the animation.
Creating an animated video without deep immersion in the subject and project is impossible—it would result in an unrealistic video with numerous factual inaccuracies. Our goal with this explainer video was to evoke emotions in viewers, making them feel connected and involved.
To achieve this, we studied Canada’s recycling programs, every stage of the waste processing and conversion into gas and other substances. We spent hours researching environmental resources and sustainability websites—but now, thanks to this project, our animation studio has become much more knowledgeable about eco-friendly practices.
For example, we learned that Durham has the Durham-York Energy Centre, which safely processes 140,000 tons of household waste per year—the waste that remains after recycling programs.
Durham has been engaged in waste management for a long time. Their first waste diversion plan was launched in 1999, designed for a 20-year period. Under this initiative, the region expanded the Green Bin and Blue Box programs, increasing waste diversion rates from 30% to approximately 63%.
To achieve this, we studied Canada’s recycling programs, every stage of the waste processing and conversion into gas and other substances. We spent hours researching environmental resources and sustainability websites—but now, thanks to this project, our animation studio has become much more knowledgeable about eco-friendly practices.
For example, we learned that Durham has the Durham-York Energy Centre, which safely processes 140,000 tons of household waste per year—the waste that remains after recycling programs.
Durham has been engaged in waste management for a long time. Their first waste diversion plan was launched in 1999, designed for a 20-year period. Under this initiative, the region expanded the Green Bin and Blue Box programs, increasing waste diversion rates from 30% to approximately 63%.
For Us, Ecology Is More Than Just Words and YouTube Videos.
Some members of our team actively participate in environmental initiatives in their hometown, recycle waste, and contribute—even in small ways—to improving the overall eco-situation. That’s why working on this animated video was particularly meaningful and exciting.
Here’s what our illustrator, Egor, had to say about the project:
"Personally, to create this animated video, I had to sift through tons of information about Canada. Before this project, I had never dived so deep into the daily life of another country. At one point, I even started dreaming about Canadian trash bins, and my Google search history was entirely filled with waste recycling processes. That pretty much sums up my experience working on this project."
In many of our animated videos, we exaggerate elements—sometimes omitting details or depicting only the essence of an object. However, for this particular client, maintaining realism and detailed accuracy in the depiction of objects was absolutely crucial.
Art Director Kostya on the Project:
"The client took the project very seriously, carefully considering every detail in the presentation video. One of the key stylistic requirements was the use of natural colors and objects that were based on real photos provided by the client."
"The client took the project very seriously, carefully considering every detail in the presentation video. One of the key stylistic requirements was the use of natural colors and objects that were based on real photos provided by the client."
Results
From the client, our animation studio received the following review, which succinctly and eloquently reflects the tremendous work that went into the project:
From the client, our animation studio received the following review, which succinctly and eloquently reflects the tremendous work that went into the project:
“
A great experience! I would certainly recommend Collby Graphics. Great communication. Very professional. I've used them twice and both times they've created a high quality product that exceeded my expectations..
We thank our client for their trust and our team for their professionalism. It was exciting to work in a new industry with a new client.
We hope that the waste management plan will soon be implemented and that, after watching this animated video, the residents of the region will have no further questions about the process.
And of course, now all that’s left is to plan a trip to Canada—to see the facility with our own eyes! 🍁🇨🇦
We hope that the waste management plan will soon be implemented and that, after watching this animated video, the residents of the region will have no further questions about the process.
And of course, now all that’s left is to plan a trip to Canada—to see the facility with our own eyes! 🍁🇨🇦