Landscape Forms, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of high-design site furniture, structure, LED lighting and accessories, is pleased to introduce Rockford Litter + Recycling, a system of 45-gallon recycling, litter and compost receptacles designed to provide adaptable performance and elevated aesthetics for public outdoor spaces. The system was designed in collaboration with Michael Welsh, a Grand Rapids-based industrial designer and Principal/Owner of Michael Welsh Design. 

"Rockford is designed to be a universal system,” says designer, Michael Welsh. "Its modern, clean aesthetic fits in to just about any city, university or corporate campus, while its modularity allows Rockford installations to grow or contract depending on what a site requires."

Available in side-opening and top-opening styles, Rockford’s increased volume, durable all-metal construction and ease of servicing make it an ideal solution for high-traffic public outdoor spaces like busy campuses, urban parks and downtown streetscapes. It’s adaptable in function and form, designed to work solo or in scalable groupings and with understated modern design that quietly elevates its fellow site furnishings. 

"This 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.”

On the side-opening version, the lid takes the form of an origami-inspired folded plane, seemingly floating above the container and creating new and interesting silhouettes from different viewing angles. The top-opening Rockford Litter + Recycling’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. 

Central to the design of Rockford was ensuring an easy and intuitive experience both for people who use the product and for people who service the product. "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 says. "This design just makes the job easier for the staff who use it on the day to day.”

Rockford Litter + Recycling 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 opportunities to the company’s proprietary Pangard II® Polyester Powdercoat System recognized for its industry-leading durability, color retention and resistance to wear. 

Learn more about Rockford Litter + Recycling.

About Landscape Forms 

Landscape Forms is the industry leader in integrated collections of high-design site furniture, structures, accessories, and advanced LED lighting. Since its founding in 1969 Landscape Forms has earned a reputation for excellent design, high quality products and exceptional service. The company is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and our family of brands includes Loll Designs in Duluth, Minnesota; Summit Furniture in Monterey, California; and Kornegay Design in Phoenix, Arizona.  It has sales representatives throughout North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Monaco, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Asia. Landscape Forms collaborates with renowned industrial designers and consultancies, landscape architects, and architects to design and develop integrated collections of products that address emerging needs and help create a sense of place. Additionally, the company has formed global marketing partnerships with select companies that share its commitment to design. Landscape Forms has an installed base of products around the world. Clients include municipalities, hospitality, residential, transit centers, corporate, college and health care campuses; and familiar brand leaders such as Harvard University, Linked In, New York Central Park Conservancy, Bryant Park, Google, Coca Cola, Oculus, U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Nike, National Museum of African American History (Washington, D.C.), Barclays Center, Adidas, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Microsoft, and Uber. We’ve been named one of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Fortune Magazine, Michigan Manufacturer of the Year for 2020 by the Michigan Manufacturers Association, and by 269 Magazine as one of Southwest Michigan’s Wonderful Workplaces.

About Michael Welsh 

Michael Welsh is an industrial designer who holds extensive experience in the contract furniture realm with an emphasis on seating and design leadership. After earning a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University Michael began his career at Steelcase Design Studio to then later move into seating design leadership at the Haworth Design Studio. His designs have won multiple awards including IDEA, Reddot, Best of NeoCon and other domestic and international accolades. As the Principal and founder of Grand Rapids-based Michael Welsh Design, his target focus is new product creation for interior and exterior environments. He believes the key to achieving and creating a peak experience begins with design. “Design is what creates an experience, so create a great one.” As an avid sea kayaker, explorer, and nature enthusiast Michael strives to bring his passion for the environment into his design work. This appreciation for nature and outdoor spaces is what drives Michael to create sustainable, circular designs that benefit both the user and this great planet.