'Horizontal Trashcan", easy to dispose and convenient for collection... a makeover as a urban icon
"Horizontal trash can", which is newly redesinged with a design that reminds of Seoul will be replaced throughout the city center, such as 'yellow cab', the icon of New York, the United States.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it developed the "Seoul-style horizontal trash can" design as part of the "Design Seoul 2.0 project to create a "fun and vibrant city", and piloted 30 horizontal trash cans with the new design in 15 urban centers with high foot traffic, including City Hall, bus stops around DDP, and the entrance to Marronnier Park. Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the 'Design Seoul 2.0 Project Implementation Plan' to create 'Seoul, a city of joyful vitality' and announced that it would take the lead in spreading public design by continuing the existing 1.0 design philosophy of 'Soft Seoul' centered on human, culture, and content to 2.0 'Active Seoul'.
In the past, there have been comments from citizens that current trash cans are unnoticeably colored, standardized square-shaped, and have small openings, making it difficult to dispose trash with different shapes. As a response, the City sought a design with citizens, environmental officials, and experts that would give a sense of friendliness and positivity to reduce the negative image of trash cans, while also solving public problems such as trash accummulation, odor, and city aesthetics. Also surveyed borough field officials and experts for their design preferences and collected their opinions. Around current trash cans, accumulated trash that could not be disposed to the trash can, interfering pedestrian environment and disrupting the streetscape, and created a negative image. In order to create a pleasant and expressive street, the Design Policy Office and the Headquarters of Climate and Environment collaborated together, gathering citizens, environmental officials, experts, and stakeholders to creat a new image of public space throgh co-design.
The new designs include Type A, which has a simple shape with rich curves, and Type B, which adds a fun element by giving the trash can a smiling face. In addition, specialized designs have also been developed that can be easily transformed like putting a hat on the top of a regular trash can, depending on the location and purpose of the installation, such as parks and events.
Citizens, environmental officials, experts, and stakeholders gathered to come up with 119 ideas through a co-design process, and 8 designs were materialized. Among them, two designs (Type A and Type B) were finalized through a design preference survey of 25 borough cleaning administrations, public officials, and environmental officials, as well as expert opinions, and Type A, which was the most preferred, was piloted. The city plans to implement a sustainable and circular design by applying recycled materials such as waste plastics and cigarette butts by promoting ESG projects with companies. The city explained that in developing the design of the horizontal trash cans, the city emphasized ▴identification and ▴convenience so that they are easy to throw away and convenient to collect, but also considered ▴symbolism and ▴cleanliness.
In the future, the city will evaluate the aesthetics, convenience, harmony with the surroundings, cleanliness, and ease of collection among citizens and managers to improve the design and expand its application through autonomous districts. As a first step, the A-type (general type and specialized type), which was highly preferred by local field officials and experts, will be piloted and evaluated in Jung-gu, Jongno-gu, and Dongdaemun-gu. "The new horizontal trash cans are designed with the cityscape, convenience, and enjoyment in mind, and will play a big role in improving the quality of life in the city center," said Choi In-kyu, Seoul's design policy officer. "We will continue to develop new designs for an attractive and vibrant city for our citizens, and strive to improve the quality of life for our citizens."