New York City is home to more than 23,000 litter baskets that offer pedestrians a way to dispose of refuse and recycling. The most widespread design, the green wire-mesh basket, has remained largely unchanged since the 1930s. The wire basket needs a redesign to better address the current and future waste needs of the city. The BetterBin competition seeks entries to design a new litter basket that can improve the quality of life for New Yorkers and the sanitation workers who service them while keeping New York City healthy, safe and clean.

Multidisciplinary teams of designers, artists, architects, engineers, landscape architects, planners, urban designers, manufacturers and others are encouraged to submit proposals by Sept. 20. Each of three design finalists will receive funding to produce prototype baskets for testing on city streets. Interested parties can download the request for proposals at www.betterbin.nyc.