Previous projects

After looking around for previous work done with bins and recycling there are fewer than was expected.
The simplest ideas to make recycling fun are to paint existing bins and turn them into art.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in singapore had thier volunteers paint the bins as part of a special activity for volunteer appreciation day in 2008. 

http://artinwetlands.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/nature-art-on-trash-bins/

This video shows someone painting their own bin. its another example of the ordinary dustbin can be a fairly boring object.

Another example of painting bins was done Seattle in 2007, as part of a children's festival.

Novelty bins are also another way to make recycling fun. The picture below shows a similar idea to ours. Rather than using a motorized hippo, this example shows a "hungry" wolf. This bin and others like it where also shown in seattle 2007 as part of a children's festival.

Modern versions have been made of fun ways to recycle.  Some of these involve electronics, where as some are more aesthetically pleasing.

The ovetto recycling bin was made by an italian architect Gianluca Soldi. The bin is made from recycled polypropylene. It compromises of three separate compartments to make recycling easier , more organized and more stylish.

http://inhabitat.com/ovetto-bin-by-gianluca-soldi/

A designer called Wesley Scott designed a recycling bin which encourage children to recycle. The idea was that it creates sounds when you recycle which would make your children learn to recycle and make a habit of it. 

http://www.coroflot.com/wesleyscott/Tune/1?state=5&specialty=4&seeking_work=2&seeking_work_freelance=true&

Another form of interactive bin was done for a kindergarten school, which rewarded children buy playing a sound for recycling, and a bad sound for putting rubbish in the wrong bin. These bins are connected to server which shows the statistics of how much each class has recycled, thus creating a competition of sorts. The aim would be that the class who has recycled the most is rewarded at the end of the year. Thus encouraging  children to recycle.

Research shows how fun bins are more appealing to many people. Novelty bins seem a particular favorite, such as the wolf bin shown above and an R2D2 bin shown in the video below.

Another form of putting art on bins was done by a company in the states. Their idea was to show off local artists work by displaying them in screens on the bin, as demonstrated in the video below.

Being able to swap pictures on the bin around is a great idea. The following design shows a similar concept how the difference is that this one incorporates solar powered lights which illuminate the works of art and allow you to see the bin in the dark.

We are not the first university group to design a fun alternative to recycling. The following university project was found on youtube. Their bin had built in motion sensors so that it light up when people walked pass. By doing this the lights formed a glass shape letting people know this bin is for glass, however it also made people want to go have a look.