Treasures in the Trash

10/28/2022

Sanitation meets Art! A match made in heaven.

06/11/2022

¡Muchisimas Gracias Mi Gente! 🇵🇷

I never thought my hobby of collecting trash would get me to this moment. It is an honor to be recognized as an influential Puerto Rican born, raised, and still living in El Barrio, Spanish Harlem. Thank you to my mother and father who raised not only me but my three sisters and two brothers, thank you to them as well. Thank you to my children who provide motivation for me to keep living life. Thank you to my huge family of Titis, Tios, Cousins, Nieces, Newphews for their constant support. And thank you to all of you who love what I’ve done over the years. Most importantly thank you to my wife who has given and continues to give me unconditional love. Today is truly a blessing!

Special shout out to 116th Street Festival!

🇵🇷

05/27/2022

Find ‘Treasures In The Trash'

Interview with Joelle Garguilo - NBC New York

Joelle Garguilo stops by Treasures in the Trash to see the weird and wonderful items of the secret collection in Harlem.

05/27/2022

Back in January Joelle Garguilo of NBC New York stopped by Treasures in the Trash to see the weird and wonderful items of the secret collection in Harlem!

To check out the full interview, check out the following post.

Thanks for visiting and highlighting the collection Joelle, hope to have you back again soon!

🗑

05/24/2022

The 116th Street Festival is back! 🇵🇷

It is truly an honor to be recognized by others for my life’s work with DSNY and Treasures in the Trash. It is an even bigger honor to be recognized by my people, my neighborhood, and my culture!

Join me for the biggest National Latin Festival in the North East which will be returning on June 11th, 2022, for its 37th Celebration. The 116th Street Festival will host two stages with various artist’s live music performances, community art, and food influenced by the Puerto Rican and Hispanic culture, with an added extra spark of excitement as the festival celebrates its 37th year celebration!

12/02/2021

Join me for an in-person tour of Treasures in the Trash!

As part of the Sanitation Celebration exhibit at Pace University Art Gallery, the Sanitation Foundation is offerring two free in-person tours of “Treasures in the Trash” at the Manhattan East 11 garage on East 99th Street tomorrow Friday, December 3 at 2pm and 3pm.

If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] to reserve your spot.

Limited availability.

See you all soon!

🗑

11/20/2021

Stop by Pace University Art Gallery!

11/19/2021

3D S N Y 🚛

Bronx 7
Joe Figueroa
Bronx 7 Garage
Foam, Paint and Wood

“The piece represents most of the Bronx, especially District BX 07, from its brick building to graffiti. And the little green ballon at the right, floating to the skies above, is for one of our fallen brothers, David Gonzalez.”

This amazing artwork is one of my favorite pieces at the Sanitation Celebration DSNY Art Show. To check it out as well as so many other awesome pieces head over to Pace University Art Gallery!

🗑

11/16/2021

Sanitation meets Art!

Here’s two pieces on display at Pace University Art Gallery that I thought were pretty awesome!

“Boots on the Ground”
Brendan Herkin
BCC Brooklyn 12 Garage
Painting on Shoes

Untitled
Gregory Cajigas (retired)
Manhattan 10 Garage
Paint

In order to see all the other amazing pieces, you’re going have to visit the gallery!

In the meantime, check out the description of the exhibit, our awesome sponsors as well as partners, and the talented contributing artists!

🗑

11/15/2021

Stop by Pace University Art Gallery ASAP!

The DSNY Art Show will feature artwork from 20+ DSNY employees, a specially curated collection of pieces from Nelson Molina's Treasures in the Trash collection, artwork from DSNY Artist in Residence Mierle Laderman Ukeles, and artwork from the new DCLA Public Artist in Residence, sTo Len.

The DSNY Art Show will run from November 14 - January 28, and there will be multiple opportunities to view the gallery. The show will also feature several artist talks. For more information, visit SanitationFoundation.org/dsny-art-show or Sanitation Foundation.

Thank you to all who put this gallery together! I truly appreciate each and everyone of you!

🗑

11/12/2021

Can’t wait to see you all!

"Sanitation Celebration," organized by Pace University Art Gallery, Sanitation Foundation and Mack Trucks, opens this Sunday, November 14!

The exhibition will feature the work of Mierle
Laderman Ukeles alongside the diverse artworks of
the DSNY work force in various media, including
photography, video, sculpture, and painting, and a
selection of artifacts from the famed
Treasures in the Trash collection curated by retired
DSNY worker Nelson Molina. "Sanitation Celebration" will be on view through January 29, 2022.

For more information about the reception, check out the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dsny-art-show-reception-tickets-200081999647

🗑

11/12/2021

I will be there this Sunday 11/14 for the opening of the art show!

🗑

10/14/2021

“I would call it more than a gallery,” said Robin Nagle, who teaches at New York University and is the anthropologist in residence at the Sanitation Department. “Maybe a collection, a museum, an archive. Maybe we need a new word. Maybe he’ll become a word! ‘Hey, you’ve made a Molina!’ -Robin Nagle,

🗑

10/13/2021

Life. One minute at a time.

A 60 Second Docs production, which you can find the full interview through the link in my bio!

🗑

09/21/2021

Today I was surprised by my son and daughter-in-law with this beautiful gift. What else can I say, this has to be one of the best gifts I have ever received! The details in this work of art are simply amazing! This badge means so much to me and represents so many years of hard work and dedication. Seeing it displayed this way brings me so much joy!

Thank you to yourcustombadges you did an amazing job on this very special gift. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail exceeded my son’s expectations.

Please reach out to yourcustombadges so you can purchase your very own custom wood work for yourself or a loved one.

🗑

09/12/2021

Many know of the courageous acts the men and women of , , and took on and after . However, only a few know that also took part in the recovery efforts as well as the clean up of Ground Zero. Though it was a somber time, it was an honor to serve my city in the days after the attacks through my job. Working together with all these other city agencies was truly an unforgettable moment in my career. So as we remember as well as thank our heroes, please do not forget our Sanitation Workers who worked hand in hand with our Firefighters, Police Officers, and EMS!

🗑

09/11/2021

In a collection of over 40,000 pieces, the one that means the most to me is this one. A unique symbol created from the debris of the World Trade Centers 20 years ago on 9/11.

May we and always honor those taken too soon.

Interview by The Guardian.

🗑

09/11/2021

In a collection of over 40,000 pieces, the one that means the most to me is this one. A unique symbol created from the debris of the World Trade Centers 20 years ago on 9/11.

May we and always honor those taken too soon.

Interview by The .

🗑

09/08/2021

You put the garbage out or paintings or whatever it is you find and once it’s on the street, it belongs to the city. We can’t take it home and use it or sell it or do things like that. That wasn’t allowed. So what I used to do is collect it and put it in storage. Until one day, I put it out and this is what you got!

Narrated by my good friend Robin Nagle. The first person to believe in my collection. Thank you!

🗑

09/07/2021

And on some days I miss it! 🚛

Hope everyone enjoyed their Weekend!

🗑

09/05/2021

The latest and greatest interview regarding my collection. Check it out!

09/03/2021

With minimal damage to the museum (thankfully), a minor clean up and restoration was all that was necessary to get collection back to its presentable self. We hope to start with tours again soon after ensuring the garage is safe for visitors. But until then, check out these awesome pictures taken by (Instagram) on her raffle win tour!

🗑

09/02/2021

Last night the City of New York experienced it’s first flash flood ever brought in by . Like many of the affected NYC owned buildings that are over a hundred years old, the DSNY M11 Garage which was already condemned, experienced water breaks and flooding. Sadly, the makeshift museum Treasures in the Trash housed in this garage has been affected. It is unclear how much damage has been done to the building itself, let alone the 40,000+ piece collection. It is my hope that a majority of the museum can be saved and restored. As soon as I can check on the museum, I will provide you all with an update. I pray that all of you as well as your families made it through the night safely and I hope that all those affected by the storm have a speedy recovery.

******* UPDATE *******

The collection is in great condition. It looks a lot worse than it actually is. A couple of broken pieces of glass and some water damage here and there. All in all it’s just fine. Thank you for all of your concerns and offers to help. I greatly appreciate everyone.

🗑

09/01/2021

Every morning I wake up and watch the Today Show with my wife as we eat breakfast and drink coffee. Yesterday we had the pleasure of watching a very special show which featured Treasures in the Trash. It is always a honor to have my life’s work showcased for the world to see. A special thank you shout out goes to Joe Fryer! You are an awesome person and I had a great time being interviewed by you. Thanks for visiting!

🗑

08/31/2021

“Nelson Molina was a New York City sanitation worker for over 30 years. He tells NBC’s Joe Fryer why he kept some of the trash he collected over the decades and how he turned it into a makeshift museum of treasures.”

Check out the full Today Show interview click on the link below!

https://www.today.com/video/garbage-collector-turns-trash-into-treasure-119859781538

Thanks for stopping by Joe and the family!

🗑

08/30/2021

Check this out!

08/27/2021

Wearing my new shirt and hat. Always representing DSNY. Tap the photo, check out my linktr.ee or watch my story for the link.

🗑

08/18/2021

It’s a family thing!

🗑

08/12/2021

Cue the music… 📻 🎶

🗑

08/07/2021

Today I Am 68 Years Young! 🎈🎉

🗑

08/04/2021

“Hundreds of Pez dispensers, old brass doorknobs, family photos and other mementos line tables and walls. New Yorkers trashed it all, but Nelson Molina, a NYC Department of Sanitation worker, collected it all, turning it into a fascinating museum called Treasures in the Trash.” -Mariela Quintana, StreetEasy

Photos by Mike Johnson

Link: https://streeteasy.com/blog/treasure-in-trash-museum-nelson-molina/amp/

🗑

08/02/2021

It all started in one little room…

“Nelson Molina spent 34 years as a garbage worker in New York City. He salvaged over 50,000 items from the garbage, creating a de facto ‘trash museum.’ He hopes the city will turn it into a museum.” CNN

🗑

07/29/2021

A little for you!

🗑

07/16/2021

Where did the collection begin?

Jerry Saltz and VICE News join me on a personal tour of the collection where I share about everything from the Treasures in the Trash’s origin to its potential future. To watch the full video check out the link below titled “30 Years of Trash from the Upper East Side Is New York's Best-Kept Art Secret.”

Thanks Jerry for your appreciation and enthusiasm!

Link: https://www.vice.com/en/article/3azq48/30-years-of-trash-from-the-upper-east-side-is-new-yorks-best-kept-art-secret

🗑

07/13/2021

See you all soon!

🗑

Congratulations to the winners of our Treasures in the Trash tour raffle! 🎉 If you entered to win a tour of the collection with Nelson Molina (aka Treasures in the Trash) himself, check your email now!

Missed out this time around? Stay tuned for more opportunities to visit Treasures in the Trash this fall. 👀

07/13/2021

“We live in a ‘throw away’ society whether you like it or not. The ideas of consumerism, overconsumption, and items designed to be disposable are sadly a part of our everyday life. But there is one person that is taking advantage of all of that. Meet Nelson Molina.” -Erin Essex

Thanks for stopping by Erin!

Link: http://www.erinessex.com/blog/2019/7/27/treasures-in-the-trash

🗑

07/07/2021

“How do you do it?”

A look through of the collection with a Q&A led by Maggie Lee, Deputy Director for Museum Planning for New York City Department of Sanitation, Sanitation Foundation.

Link: https://youtu.be/ZoZMg1XUTYM

Donate to the Sanitiation Foundation in order to win a chance for a personal tour of Treasures in the Trash!

🗑

07/04/2021

Happy 4th of July! 🎆

🗑

07/01/2021

“From an early age, Nelson Molina seemed destined to become a garbage man. In fact, he was born at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City, just steps away from Garage 11 of the Department of Sanitation, the place where he would spend over three decades of his life.” - Jon San, Yahoo Life

Link: https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/lifestyle/how-a-retired-new-york-city-garbage-man-collected-45000-treasures-in-the-trash-140057372.html

🗑

06/29/2021

“In a city filled with some of the world’s most recognizable museums, one unique collection has been growing on a sleepy corner of East 99th Street for the past 34 years. New York City Dept. of Sanitation engineer Nelson Molina has been collecting relics from his route through Spanish Harlem, and curating them with museum-caliber detail; the second floor of his district’s headquarters slowly evolving into a sprawling exhibit.” - Only NY

Photo: Ben Weigher

Link: https://onlyny.com/blogs/news/a-day-with-treasure-trash

🗑