Tag Archives: trash can

Duck Look-Alike Robots Will Revolutionise Waste Management And Help You Keep The Society Clean

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of smart cities, the integration of technology into everyday life is becoming increasingly prevalent. One innovative solution to the challenges of urban waste management is “Qua” – a system of smart baskets designed to change the paradigm of garbage collection through a bio-inspired and playful approach to social robotics.

Designer: Luca Fiorentino

The creators of Qua have recognized the importance of seamlessly integrating robots into daily life. Unlike traditional robotic designs that may feel intimidating or too ‘robotic,’ Qua takes a different approach by drawing inspiration from nature, particularly the graceful and iconic single-file line movement of ducks. This design philosophy aims to make these robots a familiar and affable presence in urban environments, fostering acceptance and reducing the perceived intrusion of technology.

At its core, Qua is a system of autonomous waste collection baskets designed to move independently throughout the city. The baskets are equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence that allow them to recognize when a user needs to dispose of waste. Instead of requiring users to seek out a designated waste bin, it takes a proactive approach by approaching users when it detects the need for disposal.

The functionality of the robot extends beyond its bio-inspired design. Once it identifies a user ready to dispose of waste, it autonomously navigates towards them, streamlining the waste disposal process. After facilitating the user in discarding their waste, Qua then autonomously returns to a designated charging hub responsible for waste disposal.

One of the key advantages of these robots is their potential to address the issue of littering, particularly among individuals who may be less inclined to walk the extra mile to find a waste bin. By bringing waste collection directly to the user, it offers a convenient and accessible solution to urban waste management. This is particularly beneficial in encouraging responsible waste disposal practices and minimizing littering in public spaces.

However, it’s essential to consider the potential downside of such technology. As noted, Qua could inadvertently cater to the convenience of those who are lazy or unwilling to make the effort to dispose of waste properly. It is definitely serving the larger purpose for society but it raises important questions about the role of technology in shaping behaviors and the need for a balance between convenience and responsibility.

Having said that, Qua represents a groundbreaking approach to waste management in smart cities. By combining bio-inspired design with advanced robotics, Qua aims to redefine the relationship between technology and urban living. As with any technological advancement, it’s crucial to consider the societal implications and strive for a balance that promotes convenience without compromising responsible behavior. The future of waste management may indeed be shaped by innovations like these robots, where technology not only serves a functional purpose but also harmoniously integrates with the natural flow of city life.

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This beautiful recycled trash can is a fitting descendant of the Vipp Pedal Bin

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A trash can that uses a pedal to open its lid might be painfully ordinary today, but back in 1939, it was a mind-blowing radical design. Imagine not having to get your hands dirty to open a bin but still having a cover to keep the area sanitized. Vipp’s Pedal Bin became the prototype for many such pedal-equipped cans since then, but the company has managed to stick true to the original’s iconic appearance. Almost 84 years later, Vipp is giving that classic a bit of an upgrade, not by changing its design but by changing what it’s made of. After all, what better way to inspire a recycling mindset than with a rubbish bin that’s literally rubbish.

Designer: Vipp

It’s definitely too easy to take trash bins for granted. Because of their association with trash, they are often placed out of sight or at least in corners that don’t get too much attention. Even ones in offices that contain nothing but paper or a few bits and pieces of plastic are often shoved under desks. In stark contrast, the Vipp Pedal Bin has always had a peculiar beauty to its simple form, and it develops an even more distinctive character in its new Rubbish Bin incarnation.

At first glance, the new bin is exactly like the old one, sporting the same cylindrical shape above a wider circular base, topped by a stainless steel lid that deftly opens up when you push down on the pedal. Upon closer inspection, however, you will notice that the typical powder coating of Vipp’s regular bins gives way to something that looks rough and raw, almost like made from unpolished cement. In a way, it does hint at the rubbish bin’s unusual constitution, which is actually made from Vipp’s own trash.

That material combines plastic from the company’s sofa production and wood fiber waste from its table manufacturing, forming a kind of paste that is pressed into a mold. The assembled bin is left unpainted, although it is treated with a protective coating, allowing its natural imperfections to become its biggest asset. To complete its sustainability message, the rubbish bin is packaged in recyclable FSC cardboard and is given a ten-year warranty to make sure it doesn’t end up getting thrown away any time soon.

The end result is a trash can that is unconventionally beautiful inside and out, at least not considering the actual trash you will put inside. Although it doesn’t drastically transform the bin-making industry, it does mean that each of these Rubbish Bins doesn’t contribute to the harmful effects of the typical manufacturing process. It creatively sends a message that recycled products don’t have to look like trash, pun intended, while perhaps giving you pause for thought about the trash that you’ll be throwing away.

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Designed by an ex-Apple engineer, this futuristic trash can turns leftover food into chicken feed in your kitchen

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One of the most challenging things I experience because I live alone and I live in a condo is trying to keep my trash from smelling. It’s pretty exhausting to always go out and throw the trash in our basement whenever I have some leftover food or trash that might smell. What if there was a way to keep things from going “bad” (well, it is still trash) and maybe at the same time do something that will make it a little better? Apparently, there’s now a “futuristic” trash can that can do it for you.

Designer: Mill

Mill is a trash can that not only keeps your leftovers from becoming too spoiled and stinky and turns them into actual chicken feed. And you don’t have to even leave your house for all of this to happen. The concept for this circular food waste device is from a former Apple engineer and the co-founder of Google Nest, Matt Rogers. This way the fish, produce, eggs, rinds, seeds, bones and other food waste that you throw away can become food for chickens. Even things like napkins, filters, and paper towels can get in on the fun.

How it works seems pretty simple. The device looks like a regular trash can and so you just throw in any of the things mentioned above. It will then dry these leftovers and grind them into chicken feed that is nutrient-rich, which looks like coffee grounds or regular pellets. This process can happen overnight and it also shrinks the waste so you won’t have an overflowing trash can. They say it takes a few weeks for it to actually become full. And there’s also a coconut-based charcoal odor filter that will prevent your kitchen from stinking up.

For now, the Mill trash can is on a subscription basis. Once you’ve signed up, you get the bin delivered to your house and you can start throwing in your uneaten or spoiled food. You empty the contents of your bin once it’s full into a prepaid box and schedule a pickup. All of this is done through an app, which tells you also what are specific items you can throw into it. This is actually something pretty interesting that hopefully will become more common (and a little less expensive) later on.

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This waste bin has a neat trick for segregation and has a surprising function

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We’re often told to separate our trash so that biodegradable, recyclable, and other types of waste don’t mix. That’s easier said than done, of course, thanks to the different categories that trash falls under, plus almost all waste baskets and trash cans are just singular receptacles designed without segregation in mind. Because of these considerations, most people don’t develop that good habit, especially at home. This “Hole Box” design concept for a home or office trash bin tries to solve that problem not just with separate sections for different kinds of trash but also by making garbage segregation as easy as playing a shape puzzle game.

Designer: Nikolay Vladykin

The problem with most garbage segregation systems is that they are wasteful and confusing. In many cases, the same amount of space is reserved for different types of trash, even if the volume of one kind is just a fraction of another. PET bottles take up more space than paper or even these bottles’ caps, for example. They can also be confusing because not all objects cleanly fall in those categories, especially in places where there are more than four of them.

Hole Box makes a rather intriguing solution to that puzzle by turning trash management into something like a puzzle. Rather than just equal spaces for different kinds of trash, sections have different capacities which can be utilized for waste that might need more or less space. Paper and boards, for example, can go to a section with a taller but narrower area, while recyclable waste will go in a bigger chute.

What makes this design concept even more interesting are the holes for different kinds of waste. These can be assigned to trash that comes in specific sizes and shapes, such as plastic cups and containers, or they can be labeled as needed. More importantly, however, these “holes” can be equipped with different bags inside so that they are really segregated the moment you put something in its proper place.

One rather curious design of the Hole Box is that it can also function as a pouf or even a table. The removable top not only provides access to the trash inside but also has a cushion you can sit on. Whether you’d actually like to sit on what is essentially a wastebasket is a different question, but it at least offers another seat should you be in need of one in an emergency.

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Niko trash bin tips the balance towards usability and sustainability

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It’s sometimes both frustrating and amazing how simple changes can have massive impacts. That is true not just in philosophy and productivity but also in design, where a small detail can make or break a product. A small blemish can ruin a visual masterpiece, or a single part out of place could become a liability rather than an asset. Conversely, sometimes that small change can dramatically improve the usability of a product, almost changing the narrative completely. A wastebasket, for example, can become more than just a place for trash that we normally avoid, turning into an almost welcoming receptacle for things we will throw away as well as things that might still get another chance in life through recycling.

Designer: Fabio Rutishauser

While we’re all told to throw away our trash properly, trash cans and wastebaskets seem to be designed to discourage that habit. Because of what they hold, they’re often designed to be hidden in shame from view. Most are also designed to make it harder to place things in them, as well as difficult to segregate the different types of waste you’ll be throwing away. For example, why do all trash cans have small openings that face all the way up and away from you?

Niko challenges decades of design convention and presents a waste bin that is supposed to be more usable than ordinary waste baskets. That’s thanks to a single design change, where a “fin” protrudes from the bottom of the container, raising one side a little and making it tip forward just a bit. This puts the opening at an angle where it’s easier to put things in, even from a distance. It doesn’t require you to drop trash into the opening with precision or to walk over just to do that because the opening is facing upward.

The trash bin is also rather unique in its appearance, looking more like those file boxes you store folders and paper in. It’s actually made of two bins of different sizes, with the smaller box being a detachable container with a handle. The idea is that this section can hold sheets of uncrumpled paper that can perhaps be reused later. Of course, there’s no hard rule for that, and you can also use the two boxes to segregate different types of waste material.

Niko is made from powder-coated sheet steel, giving it its own sustainable appeal. A trash bin that encourages segregation and recycling is an ideal office accessory where there is a lot of paper waste that doesn’t get separated often enough. It also brings with it a small change that inclines the container to make it a little bit more usable while also giving it some character so that you won’t have to be embarrassed about showing it off, regardless of the trash inside.

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Sortmate is a modular system to help sort out your trash

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As much as I would like to segregate my trash, by the time I put them at the communal trash bin, they will all be messed up again. Recycling where I live still has a long way to go. In fact, recycling trash everywhere has been put into question lately as some reports are saying that it is something that will never work for various reasons. One reason for not segregating is the lack of containers and inconvenience. So if you’re still into recycling, this new product from the Magnuson Group may help you out at least in this aspect.

Designer: Manade

The Tribu system has modular sorting bins that are connectable and interchangeable. They come in different cover colors as well to help you out in segregating things like glass, plastic, metals, paper, biodegradable waste, etc. Each workstation lets you sort up to three different types of waste. Since it’s modular, you can mix and match the different parts and lid colors in case you need help in remembering which is which. There are different small bins that you can attach to each other. Later on, you can add more bins to it over time.

The bins are in different sizes so you can choose the bigger ones for items that you may have more of. For example, plastics take up more space compared to glass, unless you throw away glass materials more often. The bins and lids are made from various eco-friendly materials. The white and colored bins and lids are made from polypropylene or ABS while the black ones are made from recycled and recyclable polypropylene, in keeping with the recycling theme.

The Magnuson Group renamed the system into Sortmate and is now distributing and selling these. It’s simple and functional enough to incorporate into your house and your trash routine. Well, it will work only if you’re able to bring them to a recycling center directly. If you have to put them in a common trash space in your building, then it’s practically useless. But if you are able to, then these bins and lids can be useful for you and your household.

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A modular kitchen bin design is the ultimate organization hack for sorting and taking out your trash

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GoodHoome’s line of kitchen bins is a modular solution for sorting and taking out the trash.

No matter where you live, no one likes taking out the trash. It can be a messy job—the bin is usually overstuffed and removing the liner is never fun when that’s the case. Plenty of solutions have come out in the past, but too often, designers trade simplicity for highly technical designs that don’t stand the test of time. GoodHome, a home appliance brand operated by Kingfisher Design Studio, developed a line of kitchen trash and recycling bins to help simplify sorting trash and throwing it out.

Designer: GoodHome x Kingfisher Design Studio

GoodHome’s line of trash bins features several different configurations of three different trash bins consolidated into one product. Kingfisher Design Studio worked with GoodHome to create trash bins that help, “[encourage] households to improve the quality of their recycled waste by making it easier to sort and store.”

GoodHome’s trash bins are comprised of three different sections that help make sorting trash simple. While each household can assign different types of waste for each bin, a typical household would allot one for recyclables, regular trash, and then food waste for compost. To provide enough storage capacity while maintaining a compact size, GoodHome merged those three different compartments to create a one-stop shop for all of your trash needs.

The different modules can also be configured to meet your spatial needs. Each trash bin is made from stainless steel for a simple, modern look that’s also impact-resistant to maximize the product’s shelf life. Then, when it’s time to take out the trash, users can lift the bin’s internal container to gain access to the garbage bag’s liner.

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This trash can dries out your organic waste volume by 60%

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It’s fair to say that emptying a bin isn’t the most pleasant of tasks; the unpleasant smell, disgusting liquid residue and luring risk of the bag splitting make it a domestic task that we certainly don’t look forward to. So, what can be done to restrict the bin from releasing such an overpowering odor into our homes and reduce the regularity of the task? Well, reducing the moisture trapped inside the bags not only eliminates the bad smells but also reduces the weight of the bag by 70% and its volume by 60%! This is exactly what Hetta does!

Housed within the sleek cladding is an interior module that allows for the drying process to be completed within three hours. The dried waste then falls into the organic liner that is suspended below it. This isn’t the only party-trick that Hetta has up its sleeve; as the user opens the door that is located on its façade, the bag is automatically closed… saving you the messy job!

Designer: Gesa Oeljeschläger

Process:

1. Throughout the day the occurring organic waste is being collected in the top module.
1.1 Over the daytime the waste airs out through vents that are fitted with filters that avoid bad odors.
2. The remaining moisture evaporates through a drying process taking part at night. Thus, the waste loses 70% of its weight and 60% of its volume.
3. Once the drying process is done (max 3h), the processed waste is ejected into the bottom body and collected in an organic liner. When you open the top module the next day it is empty.
4. The used organic liner should be exchanged after 16 days.

Dinosaur Foot Waste Basket Stomps into Your Living Room

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Looking for something truly different to decorate your home with? This Dinosaur Foot Waste Basket makes a nice statement in any room. That statement is, “I kill dinosaurs and this is my trophy.” It can also be a dragon foot because nobody knows the difference. Imagination is a wonderful thing.

This custom-made trash can is available from Regal Robot. Each foot is hand-finished to order, and you can request either a dinosaur or a dragon color scheme. If you do buy this, I suggest you put it near your entryway, and then also pump in the loud BOOM sound of a dinosaur stomping.

The $650 price tag seems pretty steep, but it’s not like you can time travel and get your own. Even if you could, who wants to saw the foot off of an actual dinosaur carcass? Not me. And that’s why you pay top dollar to harvest dinosaur parts. Some things you just have to leave to the experts. Chopping up bodies is one of those things… not that I speak from personal experience.

You can use this giant dinosaur foot as a trash can, an umbrella stand, or whatever you want. You can even put one of your feet in this thing and pretend that you are morphing into a dinosaur.

[via The Awesomer]

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It Doesn’t Get More Minimal Than This

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The latest from city park accessory master Art Lebedev, the Urnus-14 design is a compact and easy-to-service trash can. The stark metal structure is barely-there compared to other monolithic garbage bin designs but depending on color of the trash bag used, it can also stand out.

It’s also easier to reset by maintenance personnel. A built-in rubber band holds the bag rim in place, ensuring it doesn’t slip out of the grooved holder. One perk is that it doesn’t require additional cleaning – only removal of the bag.

I’m not sure how well it will contain items from outdoor critters, or how much people will enjoy visible garbage bags, but as far as being expertly minimalist goes… it’s a winner!

Designer: Art Lebedev Studio

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