The shelves in Colin Richard’s garage loft are filled with collectibles, from hockey memorabilia and vintage signs to antique shoes.
It used to be all taken to a landfill.
“Everybody jokes it’s organized chaos here,” said Richard, who lives in Hanwell, near Fredericton.
The self-proclaimed “trash saver” started a variety of collections after venturing into the single-use trash business. His discovery has gained attention with the help of his hit Instagram account.
Hanwell’s Colin Richard brings fun to landfill execution while focusing on art and sustainability.
Richard started out mowing lawns and now runs a trash can rental company. Some of the items that were thrown away or trashed were noticeable.
“Once I started to understand what people were throwing away, and strange things started to catch my eye, I didn’t have my own place to display stuff like this,” he said. Told.
“But I keep it or keep it in the closet.”
Some of the top finds come from property cleanouts after the client has examined the items and selected which ones they would like to keep.
Richard can then sift through and find additions before hitting the recycle bin and facing the elements.
The archives include a vintage illustrated poster of Fredericton from 1979, wood carvings, antiques and other finds that evoke local nostalgia.
The collection is varied, but the displays are neatly arranged on the walls.
Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper.
“You have a good feeling about someone’s borrowed trash can. You just hunt it around and find the specific thing you want to keep,” Richard said.
Finds are gradually accumulating in Richard’s house.
“I strongly believe that these days we live in a culture of too much consumption. We buy a lot of things for pleasure.
“I get pleasure from it.”
