Getting Into The Swim of Dumpster Diving

Yuppies take out the trash, cool off in steel bins

Brooklyn hipsters have come up with their own version of Dumpster diving -- filling up the bins with water and going for a dip.

The trashy trend features club-themed parties, with Dumpster pools, barbecue grills, cabanas and bocce courts on the banks of Brooklyn's contaminated Gowanus Canal, The New York Times reported. The area, obscured from view by fences, buildings and industrial junk, offers a secluded space for parties and events, and has oddly become a highly sought after party spot since opening July 4 weekend. 

"The water’s amazingly fresh, for swimming in a Dumpster," documentary filmmaker Alexis Bloom told the Times after taking a dip in a garbage bin.

Jocko Weyland, the project manager of Macro-Seas, the design and development company responsible for the project, says it's all about urban renewal, effective use of space and resources. He got the idea from a trip to Athens, Ga., where members of the band Pylon had found a recreational use for Dumpsters, according to readymade.com.

"It’s a very simple concept,” he said. “There aren’t that many places to swim in New York.” And Dumpsters “are everywhere; they’re ubiquitous.”

Macro-Sea acquired the site's three Dumpsters free-of-charge from a construction company that had some to spare. The Dumpsters were cleaned, lined and fitted with a filtration system typical of above ground pools. The bottoms were covered in a layer of sand to create a beachy feel. Macro-Sea rents out the space for pool parties, and it seems like everyone wants an invite.

Since opening up, the "lo-fi club" has hosted a photo shoot, film screening, magazine party and barbecues, and is scheduled to host lectures and other events through the end of August when the pool will close.

David Belt, president of Macro Sea, likes that the pools, which opened July 4, are attracting attention (especially since Weyland gave an interview to a design magazine, which lured gawkers to the site) but he's doesn't want it to become the next New York City public pool.

"I'm glad that people like it," Belt said, but "if it gets too crowded, I'll shut it down."

Contact Us