Overview of items fixed and back in use in the rubbish center. The center tool stock comes almost entirely of rescued items from apartment complex trash.

Broom saved from the trash heap with a large helping of duct tape. Now in use.

Detail of hand made rack in rubbish center. Construction in plastic twine and tape.

Materials: Duct Tape, Plastic Twine
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Repurposed tv unit houses library of rescued reading material, and acts as storage space for cleaning tools and items that rubbish center workers want to keep for themselves.



Materials: Storage Items
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Fire extinguisher stored right in the most flammable area. Salvaged bath/shower stool put to use as stand.



Materials: Bath Stool
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Cardboard box recycling tower constructed from salvaged metal rack and wood block for stabilization. Stool for reaching upper levels.


Materials: Metal Rack, Wood Block
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Series of instructions regarding the disposal of paper and cardboard. Green laminated sign reads ‘paper’, hand written sign instructs residents to secure bundles of cardboard with string, typed sign notes instructions from the city.


Materials: Laminated Paper
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Instructions on the disposal of glass bottles/jars – take the lid of first. Note emphasis over ‘lid’, cute portrait, and signature from the ‘Clean Trio’ who take care of the rubbish/recyling center.


Materials: Paper
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Overview of can, glass bottle and plastic bottle recycling station. Full crates form structure and support for empty.
Cheerful handmade sign providing instruction on the correct way to recycle plastic bottles.


Materials: Plastic Crates, Coat Hanger
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Cheerful hand made signs instructing residents to (1) flatten plastic bottles and (2) remove the cap and label from plastic bottles before placing them in the recycling sack.


Materials: Paper, Pegs, Coat hanger
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Full nets support emptier ones waiting to be filled. Organic self-supporting structure.

Materials: Net Sacks
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Clothes rack repaired with tape and repurposed as a drying + storage system for rags used by rubbish center staff.



Materials: Clothes Rack, Coat Hanger, Duct Tape, Bags
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Delicate decoration and cobbled together storage.

Materials: Wind Chime, Soap Holder
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Cleaning space constructed by rubbish center staff consists of various recycled and repurposed items.
A water cooler bottle ready for reuse is taped up. Does the duct tape cap keep dirt and liquid out?



Materials: Recycled Materials
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo.
This example is a note for a pamphlet on “Hand Made Aspects of Mass Produced Housing”. Subscribe to my somewhat-frequent letter HERE if you want to keep in touch easily.
Peg transforms hose and basin into stable sink for store cleaners in central Tokyo.



Materials: Peg, Basin
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo.
Several oil cans cut apart, joined together with duct tape and painted form a large commercial-use outdoor rubbish bin.



Location: Nagoya
Materials: Duct Tape, Oil Can, Paint
Streetside storage for net used on rubbish day.




Materials: Shopping Basket, Plastic Twine, S-Hook
Location: Akabanebashi, Tokyo
Siding rivets as broom storage.


Materials: Rivets
Location: Akishima, Tokyo
Gloves are stored right on top of the place they are to be used – the receptacle for empty beverage cans.



Materials: Rubbish Bin
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo
Thanks to Jared Braiterman of Tokyo Green Space for this fix:
“I visited the Nezu Museum last week and saw this broom, resting in a cut-out of the outside wall. i love how this broom is just sitting near where it will be used, and there is NO concern for it being stolen.”

Materials: Nook
Location: Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Rubber gloves hung out to dry on hanging pegs attached to a gate in Sendagaya.



Materials: Pegs
Location: Sendagaya, Tokyo
Washbasin created with a short hose attached to the tap with wire and tape and secured at the correct level with wire twisted around a screw.



Materials: Wire, Electrical Tape
Location: Sendagaya, Tokyo
String turns tree trunk into storage space for plastic bags, pegs and nets needed for the apartment complex garbage disposal space.


Materials: String
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo
Outdoor wet-space constructed from hose parts and made ‘watertight’ with tape. One spout fitted with hose connector for washing cars etc, one spout fitted with plastic piping for casual hand-washing and water-gathering. Tap/handle removed to prevent unauthorized use.

Materials: Hose, Tape
Location: Akishima, Tokyo
A community washbasin fashioned from a hose fixed to a tap, a net with a bar of soap, and rags to stop the leaking.


Material: Rag, Net, Hose
Location: Akishima, Tokyo