Justin Gignac Turns New York City Trash Into Art

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - From the stinking piles on the streets of New York City right to your living room.

For the past ten years, artist Justin Gignac has been packaging and selling plain old city trash to collectors around the world.

LISTEN: Alex Silverman With Justin Gignac

Gignac goes around at night picking up discards before placing it all in signed and numbered clear plastic boxes.

It all started as a challenge back in 2001 when someone told Gignac that packaging didn't matter.

"I thought that was ridiculous," Gignac said. "I figured the only way to prove them wrong would be to package something that nobody in their right mind would ever want to buy."

Apparently, his theory worked. Gignac has sold over 1,300 cubes of New York City's world-famous garbage in over 30 countries.

"It's a living part of the city and every piece of trash has a story behind it," Gignac said. "I think there's a little bit of that romanticism to it."

To learn more about Gignac, check out his website (contains some adult material).