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The Clean Bin Project cover image

The Clean Bin Project 2010

Highly Recommended

Distributed by The Video Project, PO Box 411376, San Francisco, CA 94141-1376; 800-475-2638
Produced by Pegleg Films
Directed by Grant Baldwin
DVD, color, 50 min. and 77 min. (feature length)



Sr. High - General Adult
Environmental Studies

Date Entered: 03/26/2012

Reviewed by Samantha Quell, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

The Clean Bin Project is a surprisingly upbeat documentary about a very serious environmental issue—waste. For most of us waste is “out of sight, out of mind,” but Jen and Grant saw it as a responsibility and embarked on a one year mission to produce as little waste as possible, following three seemingly simple rules; no buying “stuff,” no producing garbage, and take responsibility for your waste. It chronicles their successes, frustrations and unexpected challenges, while addressing some of the key elements of waste creation including packaging, plastics and consumer culture.

The Clean Bin Project contains a fun soundtrack and laugh out loud moments. It combines interesting visual effects with fun facts and statistical data, including a time-lapse scene comparing the amount of packaging used for Barbie dolls in 1953 to those in 2009. This film also features TED lecturers Chris Jordan and Captain Charles Moore to discuss waste on a larger scale.

The film has two versions for ease of use in the classroom, and would be great for classroom discussions because it asks difficult questions, including “How much waste will you create this Christmas?” and “Could you not purchase “stuff” for a year?” It also forces the viewer to consider all sources of waste and the implications of something as simple as a disposable water bottle.

Highly Recommended

Awards

  • Winner, Inspiring Community Action Award, Princeton Environmental Film Festival, 2012
  • Winner, Best Canadian Documentary, Projecting Change Film Festival, 2011
  • Winner, Blue Sky Tribute Award, Vail Film Festival, 2011
  • Winner, Best Conservation Film, Bend Film Festival, 2011
  • Winner, Grand Prize, FilmShift Film Festival, 2011
  • Winner, Runner Up Audience Choice Doc, Tallgrass Film Festival, 2011
  • Winner, Mobi Award Journalism Media, Recycling Council of British Columbia, 2010