Capable Is Beautiful: Meet the New Rockford Litter

presented by Landscape Forms

The new Rockford litter is a modern receptacle system designed to elegantly enhance stewardship and elevate streetscape design in demanding, high-traffic public spaces. Created in collaboration between Landscape Forms and Grand Rapids, Michigan-based industrial designer Michael Welsh, its refined design, increased volume, durable all-metal construction and ease of servicing all make Rockford an appealing solution for many municipalities.

“The large, 45-gallon capacity is the standard specification for many cities, downtowns and parks,” describes Landscape Forms Director of Design, Ryan Heiser. “So, our intention with Rockford was to create a core product that addressed the fundamental needs of our customers, fit into a wide variety of settings, but also had the unique details that elevate it to another level of design and quality.”

Available in side loading and top loading styles, Rockford’s combination of enduring performance and elevated style enable it to become a core thematic element in determining a city’s cohesive visual identity. Adaptable in function and form, its refined silhouette is designed to work both solo and in groupings for litter, recycling and compost.

While modern and minimal, Rockford’s differentiating design details communicate the quality of its craftsmanship and serve to quietly elevate its fellow site furnishings throughout the streetscape. On the side loading version, the lid takes the form of an origami-inspired folded plane, seemingly floating above the container. Top loading, Rockford’s lid is akin to an oblique pyramid with the faces cut out, lending the receptacle a directional quality and a rhythm when placed in groupings. On both versions, the lid can be color coded to clearly communicate to users its appropriate contents.

Ensuring an easy and intuitive experience both for people who use the product and for people who service the product was central in the design of Rockford. “Based on market feedback and conversations with our clients, we designed a locking front access door with an easy bag catch so that, in servicing Rockford, you never have to lift a heavy bag and liner up and out through the top of the container,” Heiser continues. “This design just makes the job easier for the staff who use it on the day to day.

Rockford litter is available in Landscape Forms’ new powdercoat color palette, a thoughtfully curated range of options designed to fit into diversity of architectural styles and bring new design opportunities to the company’s Pangard II® Polyester Powdercoat System, a proprietary finish recognized for its industry-leading durability, color retention and resistance to wear.

Published on July 23, 2024