Super Eco

Photo credit: wheredidyoubuythat.com, flickr

Why do recycling bins remain so obstinately, persistently, appallingly ugly? Oh, I've set up a pretty little basket for my daughter's arts and crafts paper, and I've got a trendy mesh bin for my own office paper. But the only thing I've found that's large enough for a growing family's onslaught of cereal boxes, ketchup bottles and raisin containers is a flip-top trash can in that bane of beauty: putty grey.This, in a room where I've cherry-picked items that are functional, comfortable and allow our family to go green with spirit and verve.

Have you ever tried shopping for indoor recycling containers that aren't either impractically tiny or hideously industrial? Good luck with that. If you're currently in the market, we suspect that the best solutions are definitely not created specifically for recycling. Still, we knew there were bound to be a few attractive options out there ... somewhere. Here's what we scrounged up:

• Modular recycled paper boxes Recycled construction, recyclable when you're done using it, and three finishes to choose from. Ta-da.
• Basic We don't know if we'd agree with "stylish," but "basic" and "utilitarian," sure.
• 5 utilitarian options Starting with the bright-plastic-stacking-bins meme and moving upscale from there ...
• Variety and functionality Now we're starting to get somewhere in terms of variety (although if you're a heavy recycler, you'll fill most of these up in no time).
• Fresh options Finally, some new ideas we haven't seen a million times before.
• Bag it If you need to bag your recyclables for collection, this could work—as long as you're ok with staring at plastic bags full of trash.
• Outlandish You might find something here for an especially quirky application ... But seriously: a plastic R2-D2 imported from Japan?
• How to hide recycling bins in your kitchen Tuck the whole issue out of sight (although we're highly dubious about the drippy mesh).