Sometimes a recycling bin is way more than a recycling bin. Case and point: IKEA’s Dammang container is chic and touted as great for larger items (like giant balls of packaging and bulky cardboard). But when we look at its streamlined silhouette, much more than household waste comes to mind—and we aren’t the only ones.
A quick trip to the product reviews opens up a world of Dammang opportunities. For starters, buyers have praised its design for housing pet food. “I already had the smaller container and it worked so well for pet food storage that I bought the large,” says one customer, praising its flexible lid (the two flaps on either end make for easy scooping).
The people even love it for bathroom overflow. “Using in a half bath to hide cleaning products; I have a pedestal sink and no storage,” says another reviewer. Or, you can always stick it outside. Gardeners have hidden soil inside the Dammang. If you’ve got a pool, follow the lead of one savvy shopper and use it to stash towels; the handle makes it easy to move around. Compost bin, hamper, salt and snow melt stockpile—this $35 design is a true chameleon.
No matter where you decide to put it, it’ll look good thanks to its fluted shell and muted earthy color, a refreshing departure from the in-your-face blues and greens we usually see for recycling receptacles. There is also a range of sizes to pick from: a 13-gallon gray-green option (the bin that’s stolen the hearts of IKEA shoppers), a 7-gallon gray-beige can, and a 2-gallon dark gray wastebasket. It’s not a bad investment if you’re sick and tired of piling your cardboard in the tiny slot next to the refrigerator.
