Dwell

We Need to Bring Back "Dump Decor"

The article examines how the historic practice of “dump decor”—salvaging furniture and appliances from open dumps—has vanished as municipalities replace dumps with engineered landfills. While landfills improve environmental safety, they also close a communal space where residents freely exchanged usable goods. The author argues that digital platforms and emerging gift‑economy initiatives could substitute the lost practice, but they often impose a commercial mindset. Reimagining public depots or neighborhood exchange hubs could restore circular reuse and embed sustainability into local economies.