Anyone can discard an unwanted item; it’s far more difficult, however, to creatively contend with garbage. The innovations in this slideshow have all done so in spades. From unusual designer trash bins to incredible art pieces comprised of recycled refuse, it’s a wonder anyone manages to actually throw anything away at all. Savvy advertisers and activists have even used trash to advance their respective agendas.
Check out these and other trashtastic innovations in the collection below.
61 Creative Ways to Contend with Garbage
56
Clothes Made of Garbage
Trashy Fashion at Recycle Now Week
55
Shoe Made of Garbage
Nike Trash Talk
54
Trash Into Art
Amazing Beer Can Butterflies (UPDATE)
53
Garbage Dump Turned Eco-Theme Park
Ariel Sharon Park
52
Celebrities Removing Trash
Sophia Loren Wants to Clean Naples
51
Trashy Fashion
Wearable Recycled Art From WalterWorks
50
Personal Dumpsters
The Bagster
49
Soda Can Underwear
Trashy Lingerie
48
Schering Bangkok
Crying Garbage Can Ad Campaign for Birth Control
47
Garbage Seafood II
Guerrilla Campaign Packages Garbage as Seafood
46
Garbage Chic
Black Bin Bag Couture
45
Celebs Made of Garbage
A-List Mosaic Makeover Portraits Are Pretty Trashy
44
Garbage As Art
German Artists Create 1000 Statues From Domestic Refuse
43
Recycled Garbage Projections
Eco Shadow Sculpting
42
Garbage Seafood
Shock Visuals For Clean Seas
41
Trash Photos
'DeletedImages' Junkyard of Art
40
Trash to Treasure Artwork
Chrissie MacDonald Recycled Junk Mail
39
Recycled Trash Sculptures
Eco-Art by El Anatsui
38
Search by Trash
Earth's Journey Eco Art Gallery For Green Chic Discoveries
37
Sewage & Garbage As Fuel
Hydrogen Fuel From Biodegradable Garbage
36
Rabbit Garbage Bags
MAQ Inc Makes Trash Cute
35
Luxury Garbage Bags
34
Expanding Garbage Can
Growing Bin
33
Garbage-Filled Furniture
XS Chair
32
Orbiting Space Junk
Images of Earth's Garbage Ring
31
Cameras Made of Garbage
Miroslav Tichy's Trash Cameras
30
Beer Can Butterflies
More Garbage as Art
29
Recycling Made Easy
Elegant Barcode Trashcan
28
$1M Piece of Garbage
Dumpster Divers Recover "Tres Personajes" Painting by Rufino Tamayo
27
Manmade Islands from Trash
Turning a Gyre of Junk Into a Revitalized Ecosystem
26
Trash Collecting Jewelry
Multifunctional Brooch Doubles as a Mini Garbage Bin
25
Polka-Dotted Trash Bags
Street Art for Awareness
24
Guerrilla Trashcan Makeovers
The Five Black Bins Project
23
Trashtography Self-Portraits
Artist's Giant Collage is Comprised of Everything He Threw Out for 36
22
Creativity With Dumpsters
Eco and Art Skips
21
Building Bricks from Waste
HYmini POLLIBricks Made of Your Old Garbage
20
Bag Recycling Made Hip
The Tubelor Trash Can
19
Dumpster Diving
This Is The "Freegan" Life
18
Recycling Trash to Treasures
Plastic Toy Art by Robert Bradford
17
From Real to Virtual to Real Again
The Desktop Trashcan
16
Trash Ads
Brazil Salvation Army Campaign (Made From Real Garbage)
15
Personal Landfills
Sustainable Dave Collects Trash For 365 Days
14
NYC Garbage Art 2
Trash for Baseball Fans
13
Garbage Crochet
The Barkerbell Recycled VHS Tape Crochet Bag
12
3 Eco Chic Wastebins
Trash with Class
11
Trashy Office Accessories
Deck Yourself in Fake Ink Splats and Pencil Shaving
10
Guerrilla Election Campaigns
Trash Cans Marked "DC Ballot Box"
9
Recycled Cup Lights
DIY Garbage Lamps
8
Eco Umbrellas Made of Garbage
The Eco Brolly
7
Garbage Strollers
Carriages Made of Trash (For Credit Crunch Babies?)
6
Dumpster Dress-Up
8 Artsy Trash Receptacles
5
Starbucks-Inspired Garbage Cans
The Coffee Cup Rubbish Bin
4
Garbage Can Stepping Stools
The Bin Step
3
Inflatable Garbage Animals
Air Zoo by Joshua Allen Harris
2
Bomb-Proof Garbage Cans
London's Multitasking Recycling Bins
1
Musical Garbage Cans
Xylophone Bin by Dominic Wilcox
Related Ideas
Shimmering Reusable Drink Carriers
The Stanley Dream Weaver Collection is Limited-Edition
Dishwasher Puzzle Games
Ecover's Tetris: Fully Loaded Challenges Players to Stack Efficiently
Recycled Tiny Houses
Shadow House by Matti Kuittinen Uses Waste Materials for Full-Scale Living
Grocery Bag Runway Accessory
The Marché Packable Tote Bag Boasts as a Grocery Chic Runway Bag
Intelligent Anti-Food Waste Systems
The 'FoodTusker' Reminds Users to Eat Leftovers
Reinvented Plastic Bags
The Telfar Plastic Bag Launches with a Durable Twist on a New York Classic
Space-Saving Storage Capsules
IKEA Introduces Kössebär, a Novel Take on Everyday Food Storage
Seafood Waste Bioplastics
Natnov Bioscience Has Turned Seafood Waste into New Bio-Economy Products
Algae-Made Slippers
These Vegan Slippers by Giestas Have a Food-Grade Form
Recycled Plastic Candy Packaging
Berry Global Group and Mars Launched 100% Recycled Plastic Jars
Designer-Forward Blanket Collections
In2Green Collaborates with Well-Known Artists and Designers
Edible Wrapper Snack Bars
One Good Thing Bars Have a No-Waste Formulation
AI-Enabled Recycling Bins
SmartSort Bins Appropriately Dispose of Out-of-Home Waste
Sauce-Proof Shirts
Shake Shack Created Disposable Fashion Inspired by Tray Liners
Plastic Bottle Recycling Tools
The 'BottleLoom' Bottle Strip Cutter Transforms Plastic Waste
Playful Statement Grocery Bags
The Team at Grocery Bags Spotlights its New Trollex Bag
Eco-Conscious Hotel Amenities
Groupe GM Launches a 0% Plastic Amenities Collection for Hotels
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Inner-Bottle Replacement Systems
Vanity Group’s Refillable Bottles and Pouches Reduce Waste
Retail Overconsumption Campaigns
Coachtopia's 'The Wasted Parts' Explores Overconsumption Culture
AI-Powered Recycling Systems
The Conceptual 'Binko' Recycling Machine Automates Sorting
Underwater-Created Whimsical Handbags
Coperni and Disney Present the Ariel Swipe Hangbag
Wine Upcycling Projects
Rewine by Buvons Nature Turns Its Leftovers into Food
Sustainable Plastic Power Banks
The 'Fleck' Power Bank Concept by Ujwal I.K. is Stylish
Meditative Trash Campaigns
Hefty's Trash Time Out Provides Support During the Holiday Season
Plastic Reduction Concierges
The SodaStream Sustainability Concierge Helps to Cut Waste
Textile-Topped Table Design
The Tumble Tables Elevate Sustainability Through Sculptural Form
Stylish Poppy-Inspired Cooler Bags
Out of the Woods Debuts the Poppy Collection
Crocheted Condiment Covers
Heinz's Grandma’s Darling Campaign Dresses Up Mayo Jars
Recyclable Apple Packaging Initiatives
Superfresh Growers Introduces a New Sustainable Packaging
Rice Straw Fashion Collections
Siam Kubota and Greyhound Original Launch 'Turn Waste to Agri-Wear'
Cigarette Waste Hats
Olivia Gino Turned an Abundant Source of Litter into a Shearling-Style Hat
Inflatable Portable Toilets
Kunrui Peng Designs the AirPot, a Lightweight Toilet Design
Everyday Sustainable Bags
Out of the Woods Offers Versatile Bags for Essentials
Sustainable Packaging Options
Vetroplas Partners Highlight Refillable, Recycled And Airless Soluti
Refillable Glass Packaging Designs
Bormioli Luigi Unveiled the 'Swing' and 'Reverre'
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Cardboard Plant Pots
Pot+ Combines a Plant Pot, Scoop and Plant Tag in One Cardboard Design
3D-Printed Fidget Toys
Jigglets are Produced with Less Waste Than Traditional Toys
Waste-Minimizing Household Cleaners
The Grove Co. Spring Collection Has a Special Launch Partner
Imaginative Modern Outdoor Furniture
Thomas Heatherwick Designs the In-Side Collection for Magis
Kitchen Waste Organizers
The Marna K821 Trash Bag Holder Turns Produce Bags into Countertop Bins
Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns
Unilever's Dirt is Good Turns Billboards into Playgrounds
Fridge-Decorating Trend Guides
The Takeout Published a Professional Chef's Guide on Fridgescaping
Collaborative Recycling Initiatives
National Mall Introduces a Comprehensive Recycling Program
Reusable Packaging Grocery Stores
Nude Foods Market Packs Foods in Returnable Glass Jars
Deflated Balloon Clothing Hangers
Chong Shop Has Revamped the Iconic Clothes Hanger Using Waste
Textile Recycling Devices
The ByBye Converts Discarded Clothing into Rigid Flower Pots
Retailer Food Waste Juices
IKEA Great British Bin Juice is Made with Surplus Fruit
Honest Sustainability-Focused Installations
Temple (The Last Cheeseburger) is Thought-Provoking
Lightweight PET Bottle Designs
TricorBraun Introduces Lightweight PET Bottle Solutions
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Coffee Kindess Initiatives
Cambio Roasters Launches Random Act of Kindness Week Campaign
Sleek Food Display Fridges
Kollect Smart Refrigerator Turns Groceries into Curated Display
Back-to-School Recycling Challenges
Takis and TerraCycle Teamed Up to Reward Recyclers
Street-Food Stall Furniture Designs
Jhanyar Designs the New GaGeeNang Collection
Trash-Centric Musical Campaigns
The Glad x Sesame Street Collab Stars Oscar the Grouch
Returnable Meal Containers
ReBento Updates Food Packaging with a Reusable Collection System
Aesthetic Interior Fridge Trends
Country & Town House Published a Guide to 'Fridgescaping'
Sparkling Sour Candy Refreshments
Candy Can and Toxic Waste® Partnered for Two New Drinks
Durable Litter Boxes
The Litter Genie Platinum Pail is a Fresh Take on Litter Disposal
Melon-Scented Trash Bags
Hefty Ultra Strong with Fabuloso Watermelon Scent Refreshes Cleanups
Artful Sculptural Umbrella Stands
Inbetween Umbrella Stand Soaks Rain & Elevates a Mundane Moment
Kitchen Freshness Devices
The Febreze TRASH Odor Fighter Reduces Up to 99% of Trash Odors
Zero-Waste Hair Ties
Fizzy Goblet Introduces the New Zero-Waste Hair Ties Using Old Materials
3d-Printed Rubble Furniture
Inorganic Growth by Bentu Design Transforms Demolished Urban Villages
Discarded Shoe-Created Stools
The WU Series by BENTU Design is a Sustainable Alternative
Plastic-Negative Beauty Brands
AORA MÉXICO Launched a Buy 1, Remove 9X the Plastic Initiative
Utensil Waste Lighting
Fold Oslo Nytt Lys Capsule Shows How Light Can Emerge from Old Materials
Anti-Water Waste Cleaning Campaigns
The Ecover 'Waste No Space' Campaign Encourages Conservation
Wrinkled Plastic Film-Wrapped Furniture
Paul Coenen
Multipurpose Partitioned Packaging Designs
Inline Plastics Essentials Platter Design is Versatile
Waste-Transformed Biomaterials
Laura Bordini's By Osmosis Project Explores Product Waste
Compostable Single-Use Beer Cups
The BioPak Beer BioCup is Targeted Towards Stadiums and More
Living Degradable Plastics
Researchers Develop Self-Destructing Plastics Without Microplastics
Microplastic-Fighting Fabric Innovation
CiCLO Technology Boosts Biodegradable Textile Adoption
3D-Printed Recycled Construction Materials
Vitriform3D Turned Waste Glass into Building Materials
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
E-Waste Take-Back Boxes
Trashie's Tech Take Back Box Responsibly Recycles Electronic Devices
Breakup Trash Trucks
Tinder's The Ex-press Disposal Truck Picks Up Unwanted Belongings
Paper-Made Dissolvable E-Waste
Franziska Kerber Designs a New Source of Sustainable Electronic
Food Travel Accessories
The To Go Collection Converts Takeout Packaging into Functional Gear
Cake-Scented Trash Bags
Hefty's Limited-Edition Ultra Strong Trash Bags Celebrate 60 Years
In-Store DIY Packaging Stations
Taco Bell UK is Uniquely Supporting Circular Fashion Sellers
Cheeky Trash Bag Ads
Hefty Expands Collaboration with John Cena, the Face of Its Hefty Trash Bags
Urban Debris-Crafted Portable Lamps
We+ Designs the Beautiful Remli Lamp Using Rubble and Debris
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Prairie Fibre Bioplastics
Saskatchewan Polytechnic & EnviroWay Turned Flax into Plastic
Disruptive Fashion Art Galleries
Dirty Looks Examines Clothing as a Tool for Cultural Resistance
Bio-Based Single-Use Cups
The VeriGreen Plus Was Created by eGreen and Polymateria
Creative Cancer Awareness Campaigns
F Cancer Debuts the 'Pick Up Your Poop' Campaign
Biotransformable Cup Designs
The Verigreen Plus Biotransformable Cup for Single Use Packaging
Flower Waste Vases
Petal Vase by Rebloom Studio Transforms Discarded Blooms into Sculptural Form
Paper Food Packaging Campaigns
This Koehler Paper Campaign Showcases the Market Shift
Expanded AI Cleaning Solutions
Plastno Expands its Eco-Friendly Cleaning Line and Debuts an AI App
Automated Maintenance Trash Bins
The Dreame Life SP09 Pro Has a Nine-Liter Capacity
Peach-Scented Trash Bags
Hefty's Color Series Now Includes Hefty Ultra Strong Fabuloso Peach
Upcycled Plastic Furniture Series
Kasper Kyster Presents the Crafting Plastic Series
Environmentally Sustainable Glasses
Nathan Allan Glass Studios Cast Glass Features Recycled Cullet
Recycled Desk Trays
Tray210 is a Circular Organizer Made from Multiple Recycled Plastic Blends
Recycled Dynamic Seating
The Bultan Chair Repurposes Crowd-Control Barriers into Furniture
Miniature Household Cleaners
The 5% Collection by Grove Co. Shares an Important Recycling Reminder
Daily Ritual Objects
The Routines Collection by Morontacasanova Makes Moments Feel Like Ritual
Disposable Jute Hotel Slippers
Six Senses Hotels and Resorts are Adopting Jute Slippers
Winged Storage Boxes
The Flutterbox Combines Sculpture and Function in a Playful Airborne Design
Student-Designed Reusable Bags
These Metcalfe’s Market Reusable Shopping Bags Celebrate the Earth
Japanese-Inspired Recycled Pavilions
Second Edition's Love Shack is Made of Recycled Materials
Repurposed Studio Scrap Pottery
Daon Pottery Turns Discarded Ceramic Shards into Sculptural Design
Adorable Public Rubbish Bins
SWNA Created a Set of Rubbish Bins for Design Seoul 2.0
Compostable Cutlery Dispensers
The Touch-Free Pressed Fiber Cutlery Dispenser is Hygienic
Repurposed Election Materials
South Korea Transforms Election Banners into Sustainable Materials
Cohesive Waste Management Systems
Caraway Home Debuts the Trash & Recycling Collection
Sustainable Luxury Packaging
Silverhand Estate Pairs Premium Wine with Reusable Packaging
Biobased Dog Poop Bags
The Finn 92%c are Sustainable and Durable
Redesigning Restful Moments
The ANEW Project Turns Daily Objects into Mini Retreats
Dumpster Pencil Holders
Desk organization with a humorous twist
Waste-Derived Fashion Materials
Detox Bio-Embellishments Sequins Turn Dye Sludge into Design
Biodegradable Scent-Free Refills
This Complete At-Home Refill Station Kit Eliminates Plastic Use
Food Waste Management Awards
Denton, Texas, Wins an Award for Its Food Waste Composting Program
Pet Gear Recycling Schemes
Pet Supplies Plus & Wag N' Wash Achieve a Recycled Packaging Milestone
Reusable Cardboard Buckets
Royal Flora Holland Launches a Reusable Bucket for Logistics
Sustainable Side Furniture
The Re Up Side Tables Crafted with Recycled Plastic and Wood
Glowing Water Bottles
Wonders of Nature Inspired Nalgene's GloWyld Collection
Biodegradable Paper Ashtrays
Ekoroll Introduced the Paper Ashtray for Biodegradable Smoking
Transparent Bean Bag Furniture
Shayan Ramesht Designs a Sustainable Bean Bag Structure
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Utilitarian Design Series
D/Partment Introduces Functional Pieces for the Modern Home
Modern Durable Trash Receptacles
Coated Outdoor Furniture Taunts Its 32-Gallon Trash Receptacle
Shadow-Inspired Trays
Bo Zhang’s Lightware Series Transforms Trays Via Optical Light and Film
Recycled Lighting Designs
The Nytt Lys Collection Presents Lighting Made from Reclaimed Materials
Glass Recycling Collection Services
Glass for Life Launches Its Glass Pickup Program
Sculptural Art Dining Sets
Art-Ware Turns into Sculptural Objects That Never Need Cabinet Storage
Circular Event Solutions
Vätternrundan introduces plastic-free cups and on-site composting
Table Paper Saddlebag Organizers
Tilla Goldberg Designs the SALTO Saddlebag for Richard Lampert
Clutter-Concealing Pouf Seats
The Stuffable Upcycling Pouf Hides Items in Plain Sight
Ceramic Waste Carafes
Sungai Carafe Transforms Bali’s River Waste into Restorative Pottery
Mud Clad Restaurants
Petti Restaurant by Wallmakers Uses Earth and Marine Waste Construction
Styrofoam Furniture Capsules
TRASHY Turns Recycled Styrofoam into Elegant Concrete Tables
Creative Protest Archives
Pocket Protests Showcases Global Creative Resistance Against Fascism
Minimal Toilet Sprays
Capsule Repackaged Bathroom Etiquette as a Design Object