We got to tour the new California Academy of Sciences last night, and while there were many things about the green building that impressed us, the way they've labeled their trash system really caught our eye.
We think that the "landfill" label is really genius - it makes us think much more about where the things we're throwing away end up. We're definitely considering implementing this system at home.
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
My Staple Summer Cocktail Recipe: Campari & IPA Spritzer
Those are some nice looking cans!
They should have these things everywhere! Syracuse had large bins with slots for paper, bottles/cans, and trash in every classroom, but now that I'm taking classes at Boston U., they have NOTHING!
Cool looking bins, but the little lettering on them would drive me nuts! In Seattle plastic bags can go in the recycle bin (as long as they are all stuffed inside each other).
I hate when I walk buy one of these divided cans and people either deliberately or stupidly or carelessly (not that there's really an excuse) don't bother to separate. I always want to ask what prevented them from extending their arm a bit further to put the plastic bottle in the recycling vs the trash slot!
Visually, they look a lot like the trash cans I'd find at train stations in Tokyo.
The labels are clever, though. They'd really make me think about what I was throwing away.
I was there yesterday too, and I loved the landfill label for the exact same reason: Oh yeah, that stuff does have to go somewhere. Also loved the posters about eco benefits of drinking tap water above all the water fountains. And, it must be said, the fabulous living roof!
In Dallas, plastic bags are recyclable.
I love these labels. Filing away for future use....
http://embritadesign.blogspot.com
In NYC, Whole Foods has 'landfill' written on their trash cans as well. Definitely made me think the first time I saw it.
I think that's a great idea. In the book Cradle to Cradle by William McDnough he talks about how everyone thinks they will take the trash "away". There really is no "away". It stays right here with us!
Great book, it will change the way you think about everything you come into contact with.
MyDesignSecrets.com
I wonder if we'll ever see this design come into our homes.
We are *constantly* emptying our recycling containers. I have a compost going as well. I'd love to be able to get away from the teeny, tiny boxes that currently pass for recycling containers and into some much more substantial like this.
I have "TRASHCAT DOES NOT APPROVE" on our trash can, some bizarre abstract recycling logo from Microsoft Publisher's clip art for the recycle bin, and a picture of Captain Jack Sparrow for Yarrrd Waste. I like the landfill idea...there must be an appropriate lolcat somewhere.