These unexpected dumpster concepts put new artistic, fashionable and often entertaining twists on garbage receptacles. While the metal boxes may be sites for maggots and food decay, urban planners and designers have breathed new life into the objects, making them more approachable and appropriate for modern society.
Trash bin pools and upcycled steampunk sculptures have come to dominate city streets and museum walls. The concepts are unexpected, enticing viewers to find out more about the ideas that lay behind the enterprises.
Among the more common considerations is the need for green metropolitan spaces. These dumpsters are typically transient, enabling municipal decision-makers to have them picked up and moved with ease to neighborhoods that may be in need of some sprucing up.
20 Unexpected Dumpster Concepts
20
Recycling-Themed Fashion
The Interview Russia June-July 2012 Editorial Shows Sustainable Clothes
19
Dumpster-Made Cafes
The FOUNDation Project Uses Trash Containers as a Base for Coffee Shops
18
Garbage Can Caricatures
Timm Schneider Nudges Urbanites to Take Notice of Their Surroundings
17
Trash Bin Pools
Louisa Dawson Juxtaposes Poverty to Luxury with These Ironic Sculptures
16
Personal Dumpsters
The Bagster
15
Gritty Graffiti Compartments
Desktop Dumpsters Brings the Flair of Street Art to Your Table
14
Dumpster Fashion
NYC Fashion Trend From the Garbage Dump
13
Dumpster Pools
Manhattan Beats the Heat with Unconventional Swimming Spots
12
Upcycled Steampunk Sculptures
Gone Postal by Michael Ulman is a Fantastic Found Material Creation
11
Urban Dumpster Gardening
Michael Bernstein's '10 Yard Forest' Uses Trash Cans
10
Decorative Dumpsters
Wallpapered Dumpsters Considered "Polite Graffiti"
9
Tragic Book Trashing
Borders to Destroy Tens of Thousands of Books as Waldenbooks Closes
8
Dumpster-Diving Photography
'Rubbish' From Diver and Aguilar Peeks Inside Garbage Bags
7
Creativity With Dumpsters
Eco and Art Skips
6
Dumpster Diving
This Is The "Freegan" Life
5
Precise Portable Forestry
The ParkMobile Introduces Greenery to San Francisco One Block at a Time
4
Dumpster Diva Fashion
'Victim Fashion' Combines Tatters and Lace for Fall 09
3
Dumpster Dress-Up
8 Artsy Trash Receptacles
2
Dumpster Diving Studies
Blu Dot's 'Real Good Experiment' Tracks Chairs All Over NYC
1
Recycled Election Couture
Green Inaugural Ball, a Trashion Showcase for Obama
Related Ideas
Clothes Made of Garbage
Trashy Fashion at Recycle Now Week
Vintage-Styled Photography
The Vogue Portugal September 2010 Spread Has a Whimsical Twist
Ethereal Avant-Garde Ensembles
The ELLE Sweden June 2012 Editorial Stars a Waif-Like Hedvig Palm
Sea Urchin Concert Halls
The Arena Venom Opera Explores the Biology of Architecture
Interior Greenery Technology
The E Home Concept Connects People with Nature Using Digital Tech
Smoky Supernatural Photography
The Gifted Paul Phung Delves into the Unknown
Seductive Secretary Photoshoots
The Editorial by Catherine Servel for 25 Magazine is Sensual
Candy-Coated Handbags
Marisa Rey Ecoist Purses are Delicious
Creativity-Charged Cafes
BASE camp by Nest One is a Cutting-Edge Workspace
Super Soft Snapshots
Clement Demarquet Captures the Essence of Femininity
Billowing Beach Gowns
The Vogue China 'Grace the Summer' Editorial Stars an Elegant Tian Yi
Fainting Forest Fairy Photography
Parker Fitzgerald Captures Intimately Desolate Moments in Nature
Insightful Subculture Studies
'People of Walmart' Captures Shoppers in the Wild
Retro Sporty Fashion
The Metal Magazine Issue 27 Editorial Stars a Vibrant Ranya Mordanova
Creepy Heroine Photography
Matt Hoyle's 'Fairy Tales' Takes a Realistic Approach to Classic Storie
Badass Baby Photography
Ruadh DeLone's 'James and Byron' Portfolio Pays Tribute to Icons
Dewy Sculptural Photoshoots
The ELLE Netherlands July 2012 Editorial Stars Marte Mei van Haaster
Shoe Made of Garbage
Nike Trash Talk
Building Block Cafes
The Starbucks Amsterdam Rembrandtplein is Dynamically Designed
Urban Apartment Gardens
The Auxano Makes Plant Life Possible for City Dwellers Lacking Space
Personality-Morphing Photography
'Identity' from Blanq Showcases Transformation of the Self
DIY Experiments
The Top 19 Things You Can Make
Smoldering Seaside Photoshoots
The Fashion Gone Rogue 'de la Motte' Editorial is Mesmerizing
Rickety Modern Cafes
The Noorderparkbar is an Odds and Ends Building
Upcycled Scrap Accessories
The Petit H Collection Turns Factory Leftovers into Fine Fashion
50 Novel Innovations Inspired by Reading and Publishing
Zombie Engagement Photos
Amanda Rynda Captures Celebrating Couple Attacked by the Undead
Fairytale Flower Tunnels
The Fuji Garden is Dream-like
Bizarre Wildlife Photography
Mikel Uribetxeberria Creates Surreal Images in ‘Animalia'
Rebranding Experiments
Bentley-Bodied HUMMER
44 Stenciled Art Innovations
From Spooky DIY Halloween Decor to Stacked Paper Portraits
Hippie Fashion Photography
Sophie Srej Channels Her Inner Flower Child for Marie Claire Italia
Garbage Can Caricatures
Timm Schneider Nudges Urbanites to Take Notice of Their Surroundings
Landmark-Spoofing Street Art
London Police 'Who Cares Wins' Exhibit Pokes Fun at Tourist Spots
Abandoned Amusement Park Photography
Catherine Hyland Captures China's Deserted Wonderland Project
Personal Dumpsters
The Bagster
Sculpturally Ribbed Interiors
The Graffiti Cafe by Studio MODE is a Stunningly Comfortable Area
Unique Upcycled Sculptures
The Cara Barer 'The Book's Story' is Interesting & Beautiful
Gritty Graffiti Compartments
Desktop Dumpsters Brings the Flair of Street Art to Your Table
Wordsmith Neck Ruffles
Elizabethan-Inspired Neckwear Speaks Through Fashion
Luxe Glamazon Editorials
The S Moda June 2012 Cover Shoot Stars the Incomparable Cindy Crawford
Ivory Plumed Headpieces
Industrial Jungle by Ann Mikitiuk Features Magda Słodczyk
Ribbed Architectural Generators
Hydramax Port Machines Gather Renewable Waterfront Resources
Fail Whale Tissues
The Whale Tissue Holder Has a Clever Kleenex-Spurting Design
Dumpster Fashion
NYC Fashion Trend From the Garbage Dump
Garbage Chic
Black Bin Bag Couture
Walls Made of Phonebooks
The 'ScrapHouse' Made of Salvaged Goods Is Surprisingly Stylish
Classic Illustration Fashion Editorials
The Free Magazine 'Art Attack' Photoshoot is Child-Like
Impressionist Paintings From Rubbish
Monet From Old Rope
Lying Down Editorials
The Russh Magazine June-July 2012 Photoshoot Stars a Fallen Karlina Caune
Flower Field Photography
Robert Wyatt Stages Candid Photos to Tell Stories
Upcycled Mixed-Media Lamps
Julein Devaux Doesn't Let Trash Go to Waste
13 80s Fashion Editorials
From Big-Haired Photo Shoots to 80s Hair Band Lookbooks
Dumpster Pools
Manhattan Beats the Heat with Unconventional Swimming Spots
Party Favor Photography
'Balloons' by Irina Popa-Vesa is a Black-and-White Spread
Redneck Chic Couture
Vivienne Westwood Brings the Farm to Milan's Men for Fall 09
Undulating Plywood Eco Art
Henrique Oliveira's Materials Come From Sao Paulo Dumpsters
Colorful Cartoonish Structures
The Comic and Animation Museum Embraces Modernity and Tradition
Upcycled Animal Sculptures
Ann P. Smith's Recycled Critter Creations are Amazing
16 Dumpster and Junkyard Finds
From Dumpster Diva Fashion to Tales from the Crypt Chairs
Quick Custom-Printed Books
The On-Demand EBM is a 7-Minute ATM for Bookworms
Inset Landscape Structures
The Seoul Memorial Park by HAEAHN Features Fluid Elements
Intense Graffiti Battles
'Brush With Death' Displays a Visually Stunning Showdown
Disguised Green Fixtures
The Petal Solar Lights by Mohzy Blend with Gardens
Smoky Self-Branding
The Badass THINK Business Card Holder Looks Like a Pack of Cigarettes
Cryptic Cinematic Copies
The LEGO Inception Video is Mind Blowing and Remarkable
Molotov Cocktail Canvases
Artist 't-radya' Creates Stunning Pieces Using Petrol Bombs
Paper Bag Fashion
Sasha Pivovarova Wears High Fashion Scraps for W Magazine
DIY Magazine Publishing
Issuu Lets You Preview Magazines and Showcase Your Own Work
Cultivating Charity Footwear
Zouk x Dr. Martens Custom 1461 Shoes Auctions for a Great Cause
Hoopy Bottle Holders
The Woo Wine Rack Assembles Bottles in Adaptable Formations
Kid-Friendly Cafes
The Phill Restaurant by Nuca Studio Features a Whimsical Concept
Decorative Dumpsters
Wallpapered Dumpsters Considered "Polite Graffiti"
Rehab Restaurants
'Cafe Therapy' in Prague Helps People Overcome Drug Addictions
Gamer Transit Hubs
The Stockholm 8-Bit Metro Station Embraces Pop Culture
Arboreal Alcohol Holders
The 'SUSHISAMBA Cocktail Tree' is the Perfect Sangria Server
$1M Piece of Garbage
Dumpster Divers Recover "Tres Personajes" Painting by Rufino Tamayo
Tragic Book Trashing
Borders to Destroy Tens of Thousands of Books as Waldenbooks Closes
Dramatic Interactive Street Art
Kislow Creates Characters That Play Off Their Urban Surroundings
Closer to Paper e-Books
Digital Library e-Book Simulates Print Books
eBooks Go Mainstream
10 Ways To Read An Electronic Book
Shell-Shaped Athletic Complexes
Portoval Sports Hall to Host EuroBasket Championship
Guerrilla Trashcan Makeovers
The Five Black Bins Project
Day Care Coffee Shops
Daisies Cafe is for People with Mental Illness & Learning Disabilities
Upcycled Gamer Cartridges
Transformed NES Hard Drives are a Geeky Pleasure
Creativity With Dumpsters
Eco and Art Skips
Street-Mending Flower Pits
Mini Pothole Gardens Decorate the Streets of London
Submerged Park Rides
The Vanish Roller Coaster in Japan's Cosmoworld Takes You Underwater
Undercover Social Experiments
ABC Tests America's Gay Tolerance in a Sports Bar
Urban Jungle Cities
Singapore's Gardens by the Bay Project Increases Greenery and Biodiversity
Upcycled Cowhide Seating
The ReMade USA Ottoman Recycles Leather Jackets
Dumpster Diving
This Is The "Freegan" Life
Trash Hat Editorials
Crazy Fashions for 'Live From New York City' in V Magazine #61
Precise Portable Forestry
The ParkMobile Introduces Greenery to San Francisco One Block at a Time
3D Flash Experiments As Art
The Lab by Mathieu Badimon
Experiments in Lifestyle Design
Blog of the New Rich
Graffiti Homage Photos
Roger Gastman Captures the Beauty of His Tools
Tree Trunk Concessions
Chop Stick by Visiondivision is a Kiosk Made Entirely From a Tree
Party Fashion Editorials
Model Denisa Dvorakova Parties in "The Club" for Flair
Quirky Tableware Accessories
The Bosa Issima Collection is Fresh and Colorful
Dumpster Dress-Up
8 Artsy Trash Receptacles
Street Artist TV Specials
'The Antics Roadshow' Chronicles the History of People Behaving Badly
Dumpster Diving Studies
Blu Dot's 'Real Good Experiment' Tracks Chairs All Over NYC
Salvaged Christmas Tree Sleds
These Upcycled Sleds by Tom Hatfield are a Handmade "Treet"
E-Books to Book Deals
After Self-Publishing on Kindle, Boyd Morrison Signs With Simon and Schuster
Auto-Branded Vertical Gardens
Nissan Mexicana and VerdMX Create Green Sculptures Throughout City
Tales from the Crypt Chairs
Hongtao Zhou Brings Dumpster Chair Back to Life
Mutual Mooching
Swap Your Old Books for Ones You Don't Have
Revivals of Secondhand Books
Used Book Sales Surge During Tough Economic Times
Spinning Blade Blocks
The Wusthof Rotating Knife Stand Swivels for Convenient Cutter Access
Toothbrush Jungles
The Grassy Green Toothbrush Holder is as Wild as Ever
Upcycled Bicycle Baggage
Tanya Sheremeta Brings Style Back to Bike Bags With Leather Panniers
Corky Crayon Cases
The Artgraf Pencil Holder has a Sense of Heritage
Upcycled Robot Toys
These Toby Atticus Fraley Creations Will Light Up Your World
Virtual Green Growing
Abbey Parks' iGrow Lets UK Residents Grow Fresh Greens Wherever They Live
Hardy Gadget Stands
The Arkon Universal Tablet Stand Fits All Gadgets, From iPads to eBook Readers