Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Talkin' trash: june 1, 2009 edition


The Talkin' Trash team

Last night a few of us ventured into the wilds of Williamsburg on garbage night for a little PSA. Our goal: identify and label all the reusable "trash" we saw, hoping to inspire passersby to rethink their garbage.

The tools: recycled cardboard signs with speech bubbles and Replayground stamps; markers; tape; and a little creativity.



Some of our suggestions were simple and practical.


Empty drawer: "Take me home, I can store books in your home too!". Artillery case (?): "I can be a magnetic memoboard!"


Skateboard: "I can be a shelf, too!" (ed. note: kinda wish I'd taken this home)


5 gallon bucket: "I can be a trash can!" (ed. note: These also make excellent containers for tomatoes and other veggies on your fire escape or stoop - just drill some drainage holes in the bottom!)

Some were a little more elaborate.


Styrofoam speaker packaging: "Turn me into a lamp - fill me with xmas lights and put me on the wall or on a table!"


Old TV: "Turn me into a fish tank!"

And some weren't that practical.


Mystery funnel: "I could be a large monocle!"

See more pictures on Flickr.

Hopefully someone even took us up on some of our suggestions - but if we just got a few people to think of their trash in a new way, we accomplished our mission.

4 comments:

Rachel said...

I love this series. 'Cause you never know when you might happen upon an old artillery case on the streets of New York.

Terra the Reuser said...

OMgoodness! That is an awesome idea. You're right-it's really about changing people's ideas about waste rather than those particular items. Love this post. :D

Unknown said...

yes! you're all encouraged to do your own talkin' trash versions wherever you are.
imagine streets everywhere lined with garbage and talk bubbles.

Mother Goose and Gear said...

That is such a great idea! It is not everyday when one can be micheivious, fun, and helpful all at the same time. Im excited for you to post a new one! i think i will do this with some friends on a night when the street cleaners are doing the huge junk pick up!