BetterBin: A next generation litter basket for New York City.

The Competition

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 New York City Department of Sanitation, Van Alen Institute, and the Industrial Designers Society of America / American Institute of Architects New York, are seeking an interdisciplinary design team to respond to BetterBin, a design competition to reimagine the iconic New York City litter basket.

BetterBin marks the launch of Van Alen Institute’s Product Placed initiative, a new series of design competitions to create innovative civic products that improve urban life.

Awards

Up to three finalists will each receive a $40,000 award to produce prototypes that will be tested in New York City neighborhoods.

Deadline

The deadline for Phase 1 has now passed and the competition is closed. We received nearly 200 submissions from six continents. The judging panel has selected three finalists to move on to Phase 2.

In Phase 2 of the competition, finalists will refine their designs and produce 12 full-size prototypes that will be tested in New York City neighborhoods in summer 2019.