CasaSugar

Cool Idea: An Interactive Trash Bin

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:33 -0700

British fashion designer Paul Smith and Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic today unveiled a five-foot "rabbit bin." Whenever a passerby drops rubbish in the bin, the bunny's ears light up. The bunny is part of the Design Museum Super Contemporary Exhibition in Covent Garden. I love the concept of making civic responsibility (such as keeping your city clean) whimsical and fun. Perhaps the streets of my fair city would be a little cleaner if there were rabbit bins here.

Would you want a rabbit bin in your town?

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Casa Verde: Consumer Culture Art

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:30:26 -0700

Think you recognize this painting? Guess again.

While it may look like Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte", it's actually a photograph from Seattle photographer Chris Jordan.

To see what this image is made from, read more.

Jordan creates murals, which he then photographs, from consumer trash. His photographs urge viewers to rethink their daily habits, from tossing disposable coffee cups to drinking cans of soda. In the San Francisco Chronicle article "Consumer Culture Turns to Murals of Trash, Jordan explains his project:

The images, part of Jordan's latest project, "Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait," were an attempt, he said, to take "the dry unfeeling language of data and to translate it into the visual language of feeling."

Tossed out each year: 130 million cell phones. Used each hour: more than 1 million brown paper bags. Used every 5 minutes: 2 million petroleum-based plastic bottles. Produced every eight hours by jets flying across the United States: 11,000 contrails. Used every six hours on those flights, 1 million plastic cups, because, Jordan said, it's illegal to refill your cup on an airline flight.

I'm always happy (though definitely disturbed) to see art that rethinks our consumerism, and Jordan's art definitely makes an impact. While these aren't images everyone wants to see, they are absolutely necessary if we are to turn over our disposable lifestyles (and yes, I definitely count myself among the millions who are living this way). While recycling is a good option, we need to also remember the first two points: reducing and reusing.
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Casa Quickie: Garbage Disposal

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:00:07 -0700

To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, take half of a lemon and pop it into the disposal. If you do this monthly, it'll help prevent icky odors from building up, and keep your sink, disposal, and kitchen all smelling fresh. I've found that using a lemon that's already been juiced works fine as well. If you already have an odor issue in your disposal, try using half of a lemon followed by a handful or two of baking soda.

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Casa Quickie: Trash Made Easy

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:00:51 -0700

Keep a small supply of trash bags at the bottom of your garbage can. That way, when you pull out your full bag, a fresh, new bag will be waiting for you. Just make sure you take out that full bag of trash, and refresh the bag supply when it gets low.
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Cool Idea: Sorting Garbage Can

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:00:00 -0700

If you read my post on the Ovetto recycling bin, you'll know that while I dug the concept of a sorting recycling bin, I hoped for one that blended in better with our kitchens - less of a design statement. Well, I think the Constance Guisset Tri3 may be just the thing. Like Ovetto, this garbage can sorts with one compartment for waste, one for plastics, and another for glass, in addition to a trash bag dispenser. Each compartment opens outward from a central axis via one of three charming blue pedals at its base. Functionally, this design seems to fit the bill - although I might use the discard compartment for cans instead - and it's quite easy on the eyes as well. Resembling a stack of three drum shades, it is modern, but being completely white, it would sit quietly in most kitchens. To see more photos, read more.

View 7 Photos ›

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Casa Quickie: Lemon Fresh Kitchen

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, take half of a lemon and pop it into the disposal. If you do this monthly, it'll help prevent icky odors from building up, and keep your sink, disposal, and kitchen all smelling fresh. I've found that using a lemon that's already been juiced works fine as well.

If you already have an odor issue in your disposal, try using half of a lemon followed by a handful or two of baking soda.

Recipe For Clean: Garbage Can Deodorizer

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:15:42 -0700

Of course, we want to keep our homes smelling so fresh and so clean, so it's logical to think about taming the beast that is the garbage can. If you've assembled your home cleaning kit you'll have most of the ingredients for this Recipe For Clean. Use it to get your garbage cans smelling Spring clean.

Supplies

1 cup baking soda
1 tsp. tea tree oil
white vinegar
water
favorite herbal scent or essential oils (optional)

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more.

Mix the baking soda, tea tree oil, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (optional) together.
Make sure to get out any lumps. You can use the back of a spoon to squish out lumps.
Take out garbage and garbage bag. Line the bottom of your garbage can with the mixture. Let sit for a half hour or more.
Rinse pail with white vinegar and water.
Let the garbage can dry in the sun.

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Coveted(?) Crib: Garbage Truck Conversion

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:00:10 -0800

GiggleSugar directed me to this inspired garbage truck conversion. The truck, known as the TerraCross, is designed for world travelers who want to experience off-road adventure while maintaining a level of safety and security.

For a gallery of surprising interior photos, just read more.

The optimum layout of the truck's interior took into consideration practical demands such as seating/eating, sleeping, kitchen, shower, storage, water supply, heating, lights, electricity, weight distribution, center of gravity, stability, and reliability.

Would you want to motor across continents in this vehicle?

View 9 Photos ›

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Do You Have a Stainless Steel Trash Can?

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:49 -0700

My plastic trash can is smelling not-so-fresh these days. Although I originally scoffed at the price of this VIPP Kitchen Bin ($319), the odor-reducing quality of steel is seeming more and more valuable to me - especially considering how many pricey Diptyque candles I've bought to mask the smell of my garbage can. Then again, a good hose-down would do the trick, too. Do you have a stainless steel trash can?

Mandatory Composting Begins in San Francisco Today

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:15:23 -0700

Beginning today, the city of San Francisco will require both businesses and residences to compost food scraps and biodegradable products or risk a fine for not properly sorting their garbage. While other cities require recycling service and participation, the law, which Mayor Gavin Newsom signed into effect in June, is the first nationwide to require the collection of food scraps and other compostables.

A study by the Department of the Environment found that 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfills is compostable, primarily food scraps, and 31 percent is recyclable - which is mostly paper. Seeing that SF already has an impressive 72 percent recycling rate, the legislation could send that rate soaring to 90 percent.

To facilitate the program, the city will offer free green compost carts to apartment buildings and businesses, as well as free kitchen pails for renters. Fines will be capped at $100 and are meant primarily to raise public awareness and encourage compliance. Has your city or town made any moves to require composting? Has your city had success with any recycling fines or mandates? Tell me by commenting below!

Source: Flickr User MayorGavinNewsom