Project Approach

> How can we create a practical and efficient litter basket for New York City that reduces litter and better serves both Sanitation Workers and the public? <

The (re-)design of an object won’t be able to reduce waste. For that structural changes are needed to challenge society, the political, and the economical system. But can it reduce litter? And if, how? If a litter basket design survives for a century it must have its reasons. Why re-designing, if studying the existing one and its variations over the last 100 years might lead to a design that might last another century to come?

How much transparency is needed to recognize the filling but at the same time hides the garbage away from the view of the passer-by as its best? What kind of shape and coloring could add value rather than being just another object in its own language in the streetscape? How can the design support the servicing and Sanitation Workers? …

Color, shape, size and materials

The ‘color’ one finds in New York City’s streetscape on elements as fire escapes, fences etc. is often black. Why not adopting black instead of keeping the current green; keeping the bin neutral amongst the varied colors of the urban environment?

The vertical line prevails the city, its constructions, and details; ornaments occasionally add poetic value. If the litter bin wants to blend with its differing surrounding and neighborhoods a simple vertical shape is mandatory. The required stackability lead to the idea of a stepped outline, and the lower step/recess is turned into a second handle all around the shape for a higher convenience of the Sanitation Worker.

The size of the expanded metal wants to enable visibility on the filling level for the Sanitation Workers while at the same time veil the litter in the streetscape from the eye of the passer-by (as well as the entry of rodents) as much as possible. The

weight reduction, low costs, and support as a stiffening element for the stability of the object are additional advantages of the expanded metal. Using steel and a baked enamel finish allow 100% recyclability as beforehand.

To keep the production costs low the shape of vertical profiles should allow being mass-produced. The continuous section cut out of a (steel) plate, the appendix (for attaching the handle) welded on later.

The profile section and thickness of steel needs to be studied to find a balance between weight reduction, durability in NYC weather conditions and the possible damage due to impact during use (dumping thud), being full and tipped over hitting the rim, or vandals. Pluggable connections that only require spot welding, and as such reduce costs, are considered. Overall the process of production is similar to the current one, and as such we expect to meet a similar per unit price. A more stable structure might lead to higher production costs but at the same time would offer more extended durability.

Servicing and ergonomics

Studying the servicing (emptying) of the litter bin, we recognized that the height of the bin leads to lowering one shoulder and puts the body into an oblique position for grabbing and dragging the bin. Consequentially we heightened it while trying not to increase the capacity and adversely affect the functionality of Sanitation Workers.

In keeping with its basics, the basket can be serviced/emptied in the same way as beforehand. The second handle offers the possibility to not only use the drive from turning around when lifting it up onto the car opening but also lifting it with two hands from a standing position kneeing down.

The decisions above resulted in a basket with a height of 37.4 inches, the empty weight of 7,8kg / 17,2 lbs and a capacity of 155 litre / 41 gal (suitable for the plastic bag liners currently in use). A further study would involve a rethinking of the height to provide an optimum capacity and weight while still enabling one to lift and drag when filled. Furthermore, the height of the lower second handle needs to on-site study for people of different statures.