Top 50 Pieces of Garbage Recycled Into Art (SUPER GALLERY)

At Trend Hunter, we’re obsessed with eco innovation.  In particular, we get our smile on whenever we see garbage recycled into art.  It seems that every week there’s a new addition to this category.  As a result, we’ve compiled 50 of our favorite uses for garbage in this super gallery.  Enjoy!

NYC Garbage - Buy it and Call it Art

Garbage - a marketer’s dream?  For NYC artist Justin, 100% hand picked garbage is art.  Justin collects his art on the street after major events, such as New Year’s Eve at Time Square.  He then packages his garbage into neat little plastic containers and markets the boxed trash to art collectors in … [More]

Garbage As Art - German Artists Create 1000 Statues From Domestic Refuse

The truth to the saying ‘one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure’ was underlined with a flourish when German artists created an exhibit of 1000 statues fashioned entirely of refuse. The statues were installed in Rome and will be on display for nearly two weeks. [More]

Waste Awareness Throught Art - Waste Project by Aaron Kent

AK-47 is an artist often considered a bit of a renegade. Over the last years, Aaron Kent has conceptualized projects with such variety while still staying true with the fringe dwelling style of the AK-47. Kent does not limit his work to a genre that is sure to create income. This artist lends himse… [More]

Garbage Dump Turned Eco-Theme Park - Ariel Sharon Park (GALLERY)

Over the years, the garbage pile at Hiriya dump site in Israel grew so big that the birds it attracted became a danger to the jets taking off and landing at Ben Gurion Airport.  From 1952 until it was closed nine years ago, Hiriya accumulated greater Tel Aviv’s trash for a total of roughly 565 mi… [More]

$1M Piece of Garbage - Dumpster Divers Recover “Tres Personajes” Painting by Rufino Tamayo

Not into trash picking, you say? Elizabeth Gibson was walking in Manhattan’s Upper West Side a few years ago, when she spotted a painting and retrieved it from someone’s trash, without knowing it was Rufino Tamayo’s painting called “Les Personajes” (three people). She later learned who pain… [More]

Shoe Made of Garbage - Nike Trash Talk

Nike’s latest line of shoe design is garbage. Literally. The Nike Trash Talk are actually made from manufacturing wastes, which is kind of hard to believe looking at their crisp white design. They were designed based on the shoes worn by Steve Nash of the Phoenix Sons, hence the electric orange la… [More]

Fashion From Skateboard Parts - Beck(y) Clutch and Belt Buckles (GALLERY)

New York brand Beck(y) designs bags and accessories made out of recycled skateboards and plush high-end fabrics.  Beck(y) chops used skateboards and makes edgy designs such as clutch bags and belt buckles. For each board received by Beck(y), $3 is donated to organizations dedicated to building and … [More]

Aprons Out Of Billboards - Bizura Recycled Fashions (GALLERY)

We’ve seen recycled bags on TrendHunter before, made out of used goods like sails; we’ve even featured the vibrator recycling depot in the UK. The latest trend in recycled goods are the Bazura Aprons made out of recycled billboard banners. In no way do they look chic or high end—their original na… [More]

Teen Makes Bags Out of Juice Boxes - Trash E-Fashions (GALLERY)

These handbags are made from recycled juice pouches and are both stylish and eco-friendly. The creative designer behind Trash e-Fashions Company is a 13 year old girl who discovered her empty Capri Sun pouches could serve as art. Her recycled handbags are catching on so fast that they’ve even been… [More]

Recycled Chopstick Bra - “My Hashi Bra” (VIDEO)

A new bra inspired by Japanese cuisine features recycled chopsticks, one cup resembling a rice bowl, and the other looks like a serving of miso soup. Chopsticks in Japan are disposable which is causing the loss of huge swaths of forest; reusable chopsticks are encouraged. Lingerie maker Triumph Inte… [More]

Aluminium Can Recycled Shoes - Tear Your Feet to Shreds?

British designer Georgina Goodman puts her passion, energy and vision to work to create a pair of shoes from recycled drinks cans.  Taking over six to make, the stylish and elegant pair of shoes was made from drinks cans Georgina had collected for recycling at home and in her workshop. Hand-craft… [More]

Sonic Fabric - Textile Woven From Audio Cassette Tape

The Sonic Fabric dress is made from recycled audio cassette tapes.  The tape is woven into a fabric, but retains its magnetic quality.  So in theory, you could still play the music if you had a device to read the fabric.  I hope you’re wearing a cool song. You can also purchase a Monk / Messenger B… [More]

A Belt Made Of Recycled Materials

From newspapers to your wardrobe! Do you picture yourself wearing a mapbelt made of recycled newpapers or carrying a hip trendy newspaper bag? This one of a kind products were thought up and designed by four brilliant Swiss entrepreneurs. If you are in need of something customizable, colorful or bla… [More]

Clothes Made of Garbage - Trashy Fashion at Recycle Now Week (GALLERY)

A couple of top designers have teamed up to launch Recycle Now Week to promote their passions for fashion and raising environmental awareness. They designed dresses out of trash, recycling old packaging, cans, newspapers and more, proving waste can be made in to striking fashion with the right touch… [More]

The Suit Case - Made From a Real Suit

How cool is this- a courier bag made of a real gentleman’s business suit. 40x60cm and complete with a very hard wearing recycled seatbelt as the shoulder strap, for a mere 180 bucks AUS, you probably could make this at home for a fraction of the price- well your price, I’m not sure your father would… [More]

Schlauch… The Recycled Tire Tube Belt

Rainhardt Albrecht-Herz has taken the time to think of this amazing cycle we call life. perhaps as he was sitting on his own (bi)cycle? to be more specific, this is about the end of a life formerly known as a bicycle tire tube, and the beginning of a new life now known as a belt. SCHLAUCH, (which … [More]

Recycled Pool Balls Jewelry - Eleanor Salazar’s Eco Accessories (GALLERY)

We all know by now that green is the new black and that engaging in ecologically- and environmentally-friendly behavior as individuals or group entities is the sane thing to do. Through my short stint as a Trend Hunter, I have been exposed to all kinds of really beautiful objects made from recycled… [More]

Environmentalist Artist or Crazy Person? - Can Man (VIDEO)

Well they say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure as the “Can Man” demonstrates this admirably with his extreme recycled fashion.  He simply views trash as the raw materials for his art. You have to see it to believe it so check out the video - I like the cork suit the best personally! [More]

Robot out of Recycled Cell Phones - The TeMo (VIDEO)

Finally, something to do with that old cell phone when it has outlived it’s original purpose! Introducing - the TeMo (short for “Telerobotics over Mobile packet data services"), a robot made of Legos, a few microchips, some motors, and a cell phone.  Software Engineer and self-professed “techie” Ja… [More]

Recycled Cigarette Pack Art - Lamborghini Reventon (GALLERY)

Someone put their old cigarette packages to creative use when they built this model Lamborghini Reventon. It’s even got fully functioning doors that lift upward just like on a real Lambo. It’s even got detailed seats that can be taken out. You’d half expect to see a mini Marlboro Man behind the whee… [More]

Recycled Art - Rubber Tires Sculptures as Art (GALLERY)

These sculpture are retreads of a different kind, using old tires, the artist has created something new. Artists like this need to get pumped up to do more and show the world that recycling is the “tready” thing to do.  Here are some more examples of recycled art: Portraits from Recycled Junk Mail… [More]

Eco-Friendly Sculptures – Hubcap Creatures (GALLERY)

These beautiful sculptures have charisma and character. They are designed by Ptolemy and are made from automobile hubcaps that were found lying about roadways and junk yards. Each Hubcap Creature is made from 100% recycled material and often show the scars of their previous existence, which simply… [More]

Fashion From Recycled Plastic - PET Bottle Samurai Outfit (GALLERY)

The unparalleled consumer trend for mineral water, dairy-based beverages, energy and probiotic drinks, together with the emergence of a so-called single-serve society, are two factors that are continuing to stimulate further PET-packaging demand. PET-packages are plastic containers made from PolyEt… [More]

Bobby Pin Necklaces & Other Recycled Jewelry - Mana Bernandes

Luxury and beauty can be found in every household, and that is exactly the message behind Mana, a new jewelry line.  Mana Bernandes is a Brazillian jewelry designer behind the Mana line included in the TOUCH online gallery. This designer brings new meaning to the term creative reuse and recycling… [More]

Beer Bottle Goblets - Recycled Sol, Corona & Grolsch (GALLERY)

These goblets are as unique as they environmentally friendly, but are they for wine, or are they for beer?  The Beer Bottle Goblets are shaped like wine glasses but constructed out of recycled beer bottles.The bottom of the bottle is removed and placed on top of the opening to create a stand; the d… [More]

Recycled Literature as Fashion - “Book Bags” by Caitlin (GALLERY)

How wonderful is this idea? Caitlin at Rebound Designs transforms real books into real bags.  Fiction, fairytale, biography, texts, all can be made into a handcrafted beauty.  Caitlin makes the"book-bags" herself preserving the integrity of the books cover and spine. Caitlin makes a special effort… [More]

Portraits from Recycled Junk Mail - Schimmel Art (GALLERY)

It’s true, the old saying, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Schimmel Art is created out of recycled junk mail, ads and flyer. While most people regard unsolicited mail as an inconvenience, this artist saw it as a free tool for self-expression. Her ultra-modern portraits are stunning to… [More]

Recycled Seatbelts as Hammocks And Pillows - Rockabye Car Parts (GALLERY)

Inghua Ting designs pillows and hammocks that are made from dead stock and recycled seat belts. These snooze-time must-haves are especially great outdoors as they are weather-resistant. Ting produces the highest quality products with minimal environmental impact.  She was drawn to the possibility o… [More]

Recycled Trash Sculptures - Eco-Art by El Anatsui

El Anatsui creates art from recycled objects. His sculpture tapestries installations are made out of timber, bottle caps, labels, coppers wires, washers and aluminum. The artist from Ghana focuses on the state of African culture and traditions as his subjects for his glorious recycled art. One of … [More]

5 Recycled Bottle Christmas Trees (GALLERY)

If you hate pine needles all over the floor, and you’re looking for a way to make this your greenest holiday season yet, take a hint from the creator of these festive boozers that decided to create Christmas trees out of beer bottles. Featured in the gallery is a giant Grolsch Christmas tree in Mo… [More]

Duct-Tape Wallets - Hand-Made db Clay Designs (VIDEO)

These hand-crafted duct-tape wallets go to show that by no means does recycled have to be synonymous with trashy. The designers are confident db clay will set a new standard in wallets.  To pay his way through college, Garett Stenson hand-made over 30,000 artsy wallets out of Gaffer’s tape in only … [More]

Trash to Treasure Artwork - Chrissie MacDonald Recycled Junk Mail (GALLERY)

You admire the art first, then you admire the artist for the technique, then you realize she is recycling too, and your admiration further increases. Chrissie MacDonald is the artist that creates these marvels from the junk catalogs that arrive in her mailbox. Absolutely trash to treasures. [More]

Recycled Typewriter As Art - Robot Made From Old Parts

”Back in the Day...” don’t roll your eyes, this is pretty cool! A really creative artist disassembled a few manual typewriters to create these geeky masterpieces. The keys are on the arms and legs, the cover is the chest plate, and the, uh, thingies that put the image on the paper are part of the ca… [More]

Recycled Circuit Board Business Card + An Eco-Christmas Poem (GALLERY)

Christmas is coming, just one month to go,
Is thinking of gifts getting you low? A hot trend this year has been going green, Here’s a list of some of the best we’ve seen. At Trend Hunter the planet’s important to us, Doing our part doesn’t require much fuss. All natural, recycled, and often reused,… [More]

Hairbands Made of Condoms - STD Styles Take Recycling Too Far

Here it is, your YUCK moment of the day! In China, they are making hair bands out of colorful, recycled condoms. Would you pay 3 cents for a 10 pack of STD-infested hair bands?  “Even though the condoms are fully recycled, it has been shown there is still a marked amount of risk for bacteria to be … [More]

Recycled Ad Banners as Fashion - Bilum Bilordi Bags

With Bilum bags, you are assured that no two bags of the same design are made. That’s because Bilum designs bags and other accessories using recycled advertising banners. One of the growing number of companies pushing for eco-ethical fashion, Bilum makes use of used giant advertising tarpaulins fou… [More]

Aluminated Art - Sculptures Made Of Cans (GALLERY)

With the pressure on to protect the environment, people are thinking twice before tossing their recyclable goods. Letting cans kick around a little longer evoked creativity in a group of artists who saw the artistic potential in their empties. These incredible sculptures are made entirely out of alu… [More]

Recycled Shoes - Yellow Port Shoes Made From Recycled Tires and Trucking Canvas

Yellow Port shines as an original and committed Green company. They’ve been manufacturing shoes from recycled tires and trucking canvas for years in Brazil and are finally making some inroads in Canada and the United states via Ejust Inc.  If you like this concept, you’ll like the eco-friendly shoe… [More]

Billbirdhouse - Billboards Recycled into Birdhouses

The Billbird house is, as you may have guessed, a birdhouse made from a billboard. Stylish and eco-friendly, even the hardware is green - it’s reclaimed (previously used.) The Billbird retails for approximately 90 euros. [More]

Recycled Furniture - Lamp Made from Books

Dutch design house Bomdesign features the Booklamp, a beautiful lamp fixture made from recycled books. The books are re-shaped into a variety of shades, though the light emitted is likely not suitable for reading. More art than fixture, the Booklamp starts at 200 euros. [More]

Recycled Furniture - Chairs Made From Playstation consoles

England’s Pli Design brings us the Reee Chair, made from recycled Playstation 2 casings. The frame is made from powdercoated steel for strength and durability.  The Ree uses 2.3kg of used plastic, and is also designed for disassembly and further recycling, repair or refurbished. The Reee is schedul… [More]

Recycled Flashback Fashion - 1950s Outfit Knit From Old Plastic Bags

Turning trash into fashion is a great concept and it takes an interesting twist here - Artist, Cathy Casdan decided to knit a 1950’s inspired ensemble entirely out of old plastic bags.  This great concept will be featured in an upcoming Recycled Art Show along with other similar art pieces from a va… [More]

Recycled Bike Furniture

After you trash your bike in a downhill mountain biking accident; turn it into a piece of furniture for your loft.  Founder, Andy Gregg creates tables, chairs and bar stools out of old parts from bikes. And the upholstery options include leather, rubber, cork, clear and colored acrylic, and vinyl. C… [More]

Recycled Art - Mona Lisa Made From Obsolete Motherboards

We’ve seen a number of examples of recycled art and fashion, including Ecoist Handbags Made From Candy Wrappers and a Belt Made Of Recycled Materials. Now, Asustek, a Taiwanese electronics maker, has created the “Mona Lisa” by recycling obsolete motherboards.  The further away you get from the art,… [More]

Recycled Fashion - Ecoist Handbags Made From Candy Wrappers

”You want some of my Crispy Crunch?  Well, you can have the wrapper and sew it into a bag...” That’s exactly what Spanish designer Marisa Rey did when she created her stylish line of handbags.  Each handbag is made from carefully selected, woven, and sewn candy wrappers.  And they’re hot.  At least… [More]

Recycled Furnitute - Springy Bed Made of Car Parts

Hand-made from recycled materials, including a car suspension, the Springy Bed by Up to You is sure to put a little bounce in your step. Mattress not included. [More]

Recycled Human Hair Chair

So you want to declare your undying love to someone very close and want something which will be both individual and ever-lasting; then start saving a few dollars more a week and discreetly collect all the hair that your special friend discards and you’ll be well on your way to your own Pilius X �… [More]

Recycled Furniture - Chair Made from Plastic Scraps

The RD4 from UK design shop Cohda Designs, is made from 100% waste plastic. It’s unique design makes a statement, and the woven chair can flex to accommodate its occupant. No colours are added during manufacturing, and the colour comes from the source material itself. [More]

Recycled Rugs - Nanimarquina Rug From Rubber

Nanimarquina’s “Bicicleta” eco- designed rug from recycled rubber (designed by Nani Marquina and Ariadna Miguel) participates in the Ecomind fare of Milan, held in the Museo Art&Design;Triennale this month and it represents the latest trend on home design.
Nanimarquina is the hottest brand that has… [More]

Recycled Plastic Car – Green Concept Car from Hyundai (VIDEO)

The “QarmaQ” is a new concept car from Hyundai that’s made from recycled plastic.  The car was shown at this year’s Geneva auto show.  Hyundai has cooperated with GE to integrate advanced materials by using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), plastic bottles to create the car’s skin.… [More]

BONUS:

These three were just added today, so they snuck me over my promise of 50 innovations…

Beautiful Art from Recycled Toys - Ryan McElhinney (GALLERY)

Making your house chic and elegant while saving the environment is always good in my book, so I was happy to stumble upon Ryan McElhinney’s site. McElhinney makes artistic yet practical pieces of recycled Toys which are bonded together and then coated in a High Gloss polyurethane lacquer. Each piece… [More]

Recycling Bottles Into Macho Lighting - Only Sorta Ugly

There are only two places this chandelier can possible be hung: in the garage or in the recreation room above a pool table. But it says macho all over it. For sure the bottles need to have a certain character, but no sissy bottles please. [More]

Recycling Trash to Treasures - Plastic Toy Art by Robert Bradford (GALLERY)

Art is all around us. Even in the deep dark corners of the toy box that is in your kids’ room, or upstairs in your parent’s attic. With a heat gun and a jug of Elmer’s glue you can become the next Rodin. Robert Bradford looked at discarded plastic and saw art. If it sells, it’s displayed in somebody… [More]