Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
After 4 Years Of Not Throwing Away His Trash This Photographer Created A Powerful Photo Series
Back in 2011, photographer Antoine Repessé stopped throwing away his recyclable trash to make a point. Four years later he started turning that point into a powerful photo series he called '#365 Unpacked', which challenges us to rethink our role as consumers.
During the 4 year period, the Lille-based artist has accumulated over 70 cubic metres of trash: 1,600 milk bottles, 4,800 toilet rolls, and 800 kg (~1,750 lb) of newspapers, all of which he then separated for an even stronger visual impact: "I wanted to give an aesthetic dimension to my work,” he explains. “The choice of sorting the garbage gives a graphic effect. I tried to produce a perfect picture which evokes something disturbing.”
With his series, Antoine tackles the main obstacle for kickstarting the big changes in waste management or global warming – it’s how invisible these problems are in our day-to-day lives: “We’re often told about the quantity of waste we produce, but I think the impact of a picture can be more powerful than a ton of words,” remarks Repessé. “I hope my project can inspire change,” - and so do we.
More info: Antoine Repessé | facebook (h/t: featureshoot, demilked)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
John L 8 years ago
Oh my, just look at all of the Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Pots there. Any gardener would love to have them given to them in order to start their garden plants inside early. Just fill them with great planting soil, insert a seed, water, and watch them take off. :D
Csaba Hegedűs 8 years ago
How can one household accumulate 4800 rolls of toilet paper in 4 years? That's about 3 rolls daily.
Rainy Day Wolf 8 years ago
imagine if he would've saved all the used paper too... I know that's gross but it would show the whole picture
Umut Tuncer 8 years ago
4800 toilet rolls in 4 years?! in 1461 days?! 3,29 roll a day?! hello! someone has to tell him that toilet rolls are not meant to be used as a whole cylinder but a few leaves out of it!
Becka Robinson 8 years ago
Most people are missing the point. Look at what 4 years of one person's recyclables looks like and how much space that is taking up in our landfills if we are not recycling them. Imagine just 10 people's or 100. Recycling does make a difference.
Britter Bobalouie 8 years ago
Who goes through 4,500 toilet rolls in 4 years. That's more than 3 a day.
Mulli Gan 8 years ago
4800 rolls of toilet paper in 4 years, that's 13 a day. I call b******t.
Jeffrey Thimister 8 years ago
Weird math you did there.. It would be 3 a day, still seems excessive.
Load More Replies... RELATED:
#2
Jill Hogan 8 years ago
Always wash you recylcing think of the people who have to sort it.......
Ellen Good 8 years ago
Does anyone else worry about the amount of trash we generate??? Every time I go to a place that uses paper plates, boxes and cups, I have nightmares! Check out this full article!
#3
Tess Riou 8 years ago
Btw if drinking only from bottle, does not look that much for 4 years...
Blue Cicada 8 years ago
Meaning... she possibly drinks much tap water from a filtered jug.
Load More Replies...
Connie Martin 8 years ago
STOP buying bottled water people!!!!!! Stop buying ANYTHING packaged in plastic if there's another choice. "Recycling" plastic is a joke. We have to STOP MAKING IT.
Francisco Montoya 8 years ago
Four years? I miss ONE week of putting out my recycling and my kitchen looks like this. :D
Liliana V 8 years ago
I would think that there would be more plastic water bottles in a public trash can in 4 years, right?
James Steig 8 years ago
His toilet paper claim is pure BS at 3.28 rolls of toilet paper a day and likely his drinking over a carton a day of milk is likely BS so I am saying his whole projects was inflated BS
#4
Brenda Olano 8 years ago
That's probably all the cigarettes my grandfather has smoked. That's a lot of money you could have saved, grandpa.
Naima Ivansdóttir 8 years ago
this reminds me of an old joke. "you have been smoking for 15 years... think of how much it's costing you! you could have bought yourself a ferrari!" "eh you're right. do you smoke?" "no i don't!" "all right so, where's your ferrari?"
Load More Replies...
Iñaki Tofiño 8 years ago
Nice project, but kind of fake. Did the photographer switch cigarette brand every two days?
James Steig 8 years ago
His toilet paper claim is pure BS at 3.28 rolls of toilet paper a day and likely his drinking over a carton a day of milk is likely BS so I am saying his whole projects was inflated BS
#5
PurpleUnicorn 8 years ago
It's not just the waste plastic here, but the effect of all those chemicals that we should worry about.
Linda Gulley 8 years ago
Ah yes, "chemicals." You know what your computer is made from? Chemicals. Ugh. Please get some real education.
Load More Replies...
Once Upon a Time a Wedding 8 years ago
How many people live with her? It's to much for one person, we are two and we use half of it for sure.
Carol-Lee Grams 8 years ago
This looks like every cleaning product to me. Laundry, Dishes, and other cleaners. I guess how much you use really depends on how often you clean, but you saved all yours for 4 years I'm sure you would be shocked.
Load More Replies...
Vojtěch Mareš 8 years ago
This must be a lie. I used max 10 bottles for myself in 4 years. I live alone.
Kathleen Straight-Bray 8 years ago
ummm - in four years I use four shampoo and four conditioner bottles. I make my own soap. I clean with vinegar and baking soda. Why would you need all that?
Agnes Dombrovska 8 years ago
As a family of 4 is no way we use that much in 4 years. .... Unrealistic :(
Eric Nicolas Schneider 8 years ago
you cannot use this much detergent in 1500 days. Add the tub, this makes 200 in this pic, one per week. That's worth a fine and prison, on top of the fraud of faking this photo series.
James Steig 8 years ago
His toilet paper claim is pure BS at 3.28 rolls of toilet paper a day and likely his drinking over a carton a day of milk is likely BS so I am saying his whole projects was inflated BS
#6
Lauren Towner 8 years ago
Some of them are bundles of the same magazine / newspaper stacked up together XD you can still see the plastic strapping on some of them!
Jaryd Armstrong 8 years ago
"Art is a lie that tells the truth" -Picasso. Did the image make you think about how much waste you create despite it being recyclable? If yes then good. If no, you missed the intent of the piece, but I hope you managed to at least take something of value out of it.
Load More Replies...
ItsPam Duh 8 years ago
If he's worried about being green maybe he could have gone to the library and used their magazine or an online version.
pinballsmile 8 years ago
I've actually been to a recycling plant for papers and magazines and seen brand new, 'like' piles of publications like this ready for sorting and pulping...might simply have been unsold?
Deborah Wolman 8 years ago
that does not look like enough flyer trash -- even though I have a NO FLYER sticker on my mailbox I get 2 plastic bags a week with the insipid waste of energy and resources....... If I kept mine for 6 months I would have more than that.....
#7
Kyan De Catfish 8 years ago
Maybe their playing hardcore and the guys gf is trying to fit in?
Load More Replies...
TigerDRena 8 years ago
Sadly not drinkable in every country, which makes me really miss German tap water.
Load More Replies...
Robert Mawson 8 years ago
I get it, I get it, she's controlling what he can spend the characters money on, and hes controlling who she can let the character go out with. Justin Lee Colins territory here people.
Aaron Jindrich 8 years ago
Really? Not one soda bottle?? I mean...you want us to take you seriously but C'MON!
Jeremy Beltzhoover 8 years ago
i don't drink soda...ever&neither would anyone if they were to use the brain they were blessed with. flavored fizzy super sugar water.
Load More Replies...
Diane Serpa 8 years ago
I wish people would stop buying water in bottles. unless they are those big refillable ones. I also wish cities and counties would make sure people had clean tap water.
Donna Tymchuk 8 years ago
What's he doing using bottled water anyway? Buy the refillable large jugs and fill up your own container!!
#8
Jane Crosby 8 years ago
Freezer meals and egg cartons and pasta boxes and chip bags, etc!
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Dan H 8 years ago
4 years = 208 weeks, and 4,800 rolls of toilet paper equal 23.07 rolls per week -- I call shenanigans on his claim that he "stopped throwing away his recyclable trash to make a point. " He had to enlist a number of other people for his "collection" Yes, we should recycle, but at least be honest about the process of how he came about the materials
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
Lauren Towner noticed, that in the newspapers picture there are bundles of the same magazine stacked up - even with the plastic strap there. So the idea is fine, just why say "I've been collecting 4 years worth of garbage" instead of "I staged to show what it could look like"? :/
varwenea 8 years ago
This is clearly staged. Be that as it may, the fundamental message is we produce a lot, a lot of garbage. Even with recycling, it's a lot. We can make purchasing decisions in our daily lives to reduce as much as we reasonably can - buying bulk, buying larger containers where feasible, refill to smaller, washable containers, use washable containers instead of throw-away Ziploc type of bags, buy foods that have less packaging, etc.
Bobbi Newell 8 years ago
Some of the photos are believable, others are not. I don't believe he smoked that much in 4 years, or used that many cleaning products, and the obvious use of still-bundled magazines is a blatant violation of our trust. If you want to expose how much waste humans generate, fine, I'm all for it. But don't condescend, and don't LIE.
Darla Markle 8 years ago
Why would anyone not throw trash away? And where did she store it? Either fake or she's nuts
Aidan Spurrill 8 years ago
#7 Both of them are holding controllers and actively attempting to play. That is clearly a one-player game
Deni Hunter 8 years ago
I think the trolls commenting on this story did not actually read it. Why are people so dumb?
Julie Read 8 years ago
The point is being lost slightly, does it matter if it's believable for 4 years recycling. It's that we consume too much, we have few choices of how to receive our goods - it would be great if shops had places where you could refill rather than buy again. The companies should be thinking about that, Unilever, the other big brands - it would be so much better than to recycle as that in itself costs huge amounts and uses so much energy etc. We need to get a grip as a world before we totally ruin it. Rant over. Great images......nice to see someone doing some poignant, meaningful art. If you're interested in developing a portfolio for art college on ideas of social issues/current affairs then take a look at our new online mentoring programme to get you into art college. https://www.portfolio-oomph.com/online-portfolio-preparation-course/ course-ima...6efe63.jpg 
Dan H 8 years ago
4 years = 208 weeks, and 4,800 rolls of toilet paper equal 23.07 rolls per week -- I call shenanigans on his claim that he "stopped throwing away his recyclable trash to make a point. " He had to enlist a number of other people for his "collection" Yes, we should recycle, but at least be honest about the process of how he came about the materials
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
Lauren Towner noticed, that in the newspapers picture there are bundles of the same magazine stacked up - even with the plastic strap there. So the idea is fine, just why say "I've been collecting 4 years worth of garbage" instead of "I staged to show what it could look like"? :/
varwenea 8 years ago
This is clearly staged. Be that as it may, the fundamental message is we produce a lot, a lot of garbage. Even with recycling, it's a lot. We can make purchasing decisions in our daily lives to reduce as much as we reasonably can - buying bulk, buying larger containers where feasible, refill to smaller, washable containers, use washable containers instead of throw-away Ziploc type of bags, buy foods that have less packaging, etc.
Bobbi Newell 8 years ago
Some of the photos are believable, others are not. I don't believe he smoked that much in 4 years, or used that many cleaning products, and the obvious use of still-bundled magazines is a blatant violation of our trust. If you want to expose how much waste humans generate, fine, I'm all for it. But don't condescend, and don't LIE.
Darla Markle 8 years ago
Why would anyone not throw trash away? And where did she store it? Either fake or she's nuts
Aidan Spurrill 8 years ago
#7 Both of them are holding controllers and actively attempting to play. That is clearly a one-player game
Deni Hunter 8 years ago
I think the trolls commenting on this story did not actually read it. Why are people so dumb?
Julie Read 8 years ago
The point is being lost slightly, does it matter if it's believable for 4 years recycling. It's that we consume too much, we have few choices of how to receive our goods - it would be great if shops had places where you could refill rather than buy again. The companies should be thinking about that, Unilever, the other big brands - it would be so much better than to recycle as that in itself costs huge amounts and uses so much energy etc. We need to get a grip as a world before we totally ruin it. Rant over. Great images......nice to see someone doing some poignant, meaningful art. If you're interested in developing a portfolio for art college on ideas of social issues/current affairs then take a look at our new online mentoring programme to get you into art college. https://www.portfolio-oomph.com/online-portfolio-preparation-course/ course-ima...6efe63.jpg
You May Like 86 Photography Hacks To Take Your Photos To The Next Level 50 People Arranged Things In The Most Satisfying Way, Then Shared It On This Group (New Pics) 115 Photography Jokes That Shutterbugs Will Be Fond Of
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Gabija Palšytė
Justina Čiapaitė
Related on Bored Panda
