Nowadays, people tend to acquire a lot of junk. Or should we say possessions? Valued possessions? Oftentimes, our stuff seems important until a life milestone comes along, slaps us across the face, and resets our mental space. For instance, when we move from one home to another, this can be one of those moments where we sit back and wonder, “why on earth do I have all of this stuff?”

The point of this article is not to solve that issue. That’s between you and your stuff…or maybe you and a therapist. If you want to go down that rabbit hole, there are plenty of books and theories about how to improve your life by parting ways with most of your belongings. What we’re here to do is offer you a fun, clever object to store your things.

That’s right! Something unique to hold more of your stuff! Introducing Dumpsty, a tiny version of the common back alley trash receptacle that can be found across the world, constantly collecting stuff that people have decided to get rid of.

A dumpster on the streets is said to last a little more than 10 years. I would have expected that number to be higher, but I suppose I’m not considering the wear and tear, the weather, the grease and other amazing substances that spill inside, and the general lack of respect that most trucks and humans will show to a dumpster over the course of its life. Thankfully, steel is easily recyclable so hopefully most of these cans which are responsible for storing and sending tons of garbage to a landfill each year, are themselves able to avoid the dump and create a 2nd or 3rd life, maybe even as something far more glamorous than a dumpster bin.

Dumpsty Jr. square in fresh blue acting as TV remote storage
red Dumpsty Jr holding personal belongings on a countertop

What’s so cool about Dumpsty? Well, most versions come in a sleek powder coat. This is heavy-duty, non-liquid paint that is stronger than enamel. It’s sprayed and then heated to cure and coat the metal. Powder coating is popular for outdoor, commercial settings because it’s so durable. Unlike a full size dumpster, yours will probably be kept indoors and not thrashed about by a truck or backed into by a car each month. Even some serious play time doled out by your toddler or banging this thing around with whatever it’s going to store will be hard to shorten its lifespan. If all you’re doing is placing your dumpsty on a bookshelf, desk, or coffee table, this thing will certainly outlast you.

We do carry a couple versions of Dumpsty and Dumpsty Jr which come in raw steel. These look and feel like uncoated, unpolished metal containers. They’ll show signs of rust over time or from frequently handling them as oils and moisture start to do their magic on the metal. Don’t worry though, Dumpsty is made of solid 1/16“ steel so it’s not going to erode enough to cause damage any time soon. These raw steel versions are great for decorating, whether you’re trying to make them look dilapidated or use them as a canvas by turning them into a piece of art.

This distinct desktop organizer or storage container creates giggles and awes no matter what room of the house you place it in. Use Dumpsty to store magazines in your bathroom for a chuckle. Keep your cooking utensils like spatulas and stirring spoons stacked nicely on your counter with far more character than a metal cylinder you’ll find at Ikea. Keep tongs, metal brushes and all of your other grilling tools organized at your outdoor kitchen. You can even fill it up with suggestions from Oprah’s book club and then place it in the middle of your coffee table to show off how well read you are while still being down to earth.

In a shallow worldview, our stuff is all we have to show off who we really are. That and our selfies on social media. So forget about decluttering your life, just grab a Dumpsty and start by decluttering your desk, countertop, or bookshelf. You know you’ll miss that stuff if you throw it away. A miniature trash can is all you need to complete a brief 15 minute cleaning session that might just take your social status from the alley to main street.