Better Bin Design Competition: A Next-Generation Litter Basket for New York City

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and Van Alen Institute is pleased to announce Better Bin design competition: A Next-Generation Litter Basket for New York City to reimagine the iconic New York city litter basket. The competition is open in collaboration with the Industrial Designers Society of America and the American Institute of Architects New York.

The International Competition is open to the public. Submissions are welcome from the entire design community, including architects, artists, engineers, landscape architects, planners, urban designers, industrial designers, and manufacturers, etc.

Better Bin is a two-stage international design competition to replace New York City’s current steel mesh litter basket. Up to three finalists will each receive a $40,000 award to produce prototypes that will be tested in New York City neighborhoods.

Who May Eligible:

To eligible, the candidates must be following all the eligibility criteria:

• The Competition is open to the public.
• Submissions are welcome from the entire design community, including architects, artists, engineers, landscape architects, planners, urban designers, industrial designers, and manufacturers, etc.
• Submissions from international competitors, multi-disciplinary teams, and students are welcome.

How to Apply & Competitions Rules:

To participate in the competition, all entries must be submitted to betterbin@dsny.nyc.gov with subject line BetterBin.

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?

 Rules:

• There is no maximum number of team members, but the recommended number is up to 4.
• Each Competitor may only submit one Submission, and no individual or firm may be a member of more than one team Submission.
• Current City of New York employees is not eligible to participate in this Competition.
• No member of the Judging Panel may compete in the Competition, assist a Competitor, or act in any other capacity to advise or aid a Competitor in the development or presentation of their Submission.
• No partner, associate, or employer/employee of a Judging Panel member may participate.
• All Competitors are advised to keep a copy of their Submission, as the Competition Partners shall not assume responsibility for returning Submissions.
• Any Submission which is received after the Submission Deadline; is incomplete; or violates any provisions of the Competition Conditions, will be disqualified.
• All images submitted must be high-resolution
• By submitting an entry, entrants warrant that the material is their original work, does not infringe upon copyright law and that they have permission to publish the material.

Submission Requirements:

Stage I-

The following is required for Stage I:

• A single, 8-page PDF document with all items listed below.
• The PDF should be formatted 8.5-by-11 inches in landscape orientation with a maximum file size of 15MB.
• Title your PDF and JPEG files with your team lead the last name followed by “_BetterBin.”
• Hard copies of submission materials will not be accepted.
• The 8-page PDF must include the following content in the order listed:
  • PAGE 1: Cover Sheet, including project name, team name, team lead’s phone number, and email address, country, names and affiliations of all team members.
  • PAGE 2-6: Project Approach, including:

1. 100-word abstract for promotion and publication.
2. Summary of no more than 500 words on initial concept and design approach for the proposed litter basket, including
3. Description of the design process and design details.
4. Description of the ways the design meets the critical design requirements and user needs listed above.

iii. Description of how the litter basket will be serviced (emptied) by Sanitation Workers.

1. Renderings of the litter basket design, paired with a design version altered for commingled metal, glass and plastic recycling, in at least two New York City contexts (at least one of which must be in Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island).
2. Technical drawings including dimensions, materials, and weight. This should include a drawing of stacked baskets and the overall height.
3. Estimated cost per unit at scale (20,000 units), anticipated fabrication methods and how you arrived at this estimation.

• PAGES 7-8 Team Details, including

1. Team bio.
2. Three images of past relevant design work.
3. Contact information for two references, such as a former client, collaborator or professor.

Note: In addition to the PDF document, the Stage I Submission must include a file download link to an IGES file that is the basis of the graphic renderings of the design.

STAGE II

The following is required for Stage II Finalist Submissions:

1. No fewer than twelve (12), and up to twenty (20) full scale and fully functional prototypes of the proposed litter basket, that will be tested in a public forum for a trial period.
2. All CAD data.
3. Detailed technical drawings and specifications.

Benefits:

• Each Finalist will receive a $40,000 award, inclusive of prize money and fabrication funds, to produce no fewer than twelve (12) and up to twenty (20) prototypes that will be tested in a public forum for a trial period.
• In addition, Finalists will receive a dedicated design for manufacturability (DFM) support.
• The First Place Winner shall also be entitled to an identifying mark no larger than 2 inches by 2 inches on the first 10,000 litter baskets that are produced and put into service in New York City

Application Deadline:

The Submission Deadline is September 20, 2018.

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