Treasure in the Trash: Nelson Molina’s Journey of Finding Beauty in the Unwanted

In the heart of New York City, where the rhythm of life often means moving fast and discarding the old to make room for the new, one man found extraordinary value in the things others threw away. Nelson Molina, a former sanitation worker, spent over three decades collecting what people considered trash and, in doing so, built an unexpected and captivating collection that has come to be known as the “Treasure in the Trash” museum.

How It All Began

Molina started his career with the New York City Department of Sanitation in the 1980s, working in East Harlem. While most people see garbage as just that—garbage—Molina saw potential in the discarded items that lined the city streets. Whether it was a forgotten painting, an old toy, or even broken furniture, he realized these objects still held a certain charm and value.

What started as a few interesting finds quickly grew into a passion for rescuing items from the landfill. Over the years, Molina saved thousands of objects and created a collection that would eventually fill an entire sanitation garage. But this wasn’t just hoarding—a carefully curated display that told a story about the city, its people, and the things we leave behind.

The Museum in a Garage

Walking into Molina’s “Treasure in the Trash” collection is like stepping into a time capsule of New York City. The garage, located in East Harlem, is packed with everything from vintage radios and toys to old photographs and art. It’s an eclectic, fascinating mix, and each item has its own story—its history.

What makes this collection even more remarkable is the fact that none of it was bought. Every piece was found discarded on the streets. For Molina, these items weren’t junk; they were snapshots of people’s lives, moments frozen in time, waiting to be appreciated again.

Visitors describe the collection as both overwhelming and deeply moving. It’s a visual reminder of the transient nature of our lives and the things we leave behind, often without a second thought.

Finding Value in the Forgotten

The heart of Molina’s project is his belief that everything—and everyone—has value, even if it’s not immediately apparent. Each object he saved from the trash was given a second chance, and in his eyes, they all deserved it. This perspective is what has drawn people to his story.

In a society where we’re constantly bombarded with the new, fast, and disposable, Molina’s collection offers a counter-narrative. It asks us to slow down, to consider the worth of what we have before we toss it away. His work also challenges the idea of what makes something valuable in the first place. After all, what’s one person’s trash is, quite literally, another person’s treasure.

A Reflection of the City’s Story

Molina’s collection isn’t just a random assortment of stuff—it’s a reflection of New York City itself. The items he’s gathered tell the story of the city’s neighborhoods, its changing culture, and the lives of the people who have lived and worked there. A pair of old shoes, an antique mirror, a hand-painted sign—each item speaks to a different time, a different person, and a different chapter in the city’s history.

As New York has evolved, so too has its trash. The things Molina found in the early days of his career were vastly different from what he saw later on. This shift is evident in his collection, which serves as a visual record of the city’s transformation over the years.

The Art of Seeing

What makes Nelson Molina special isn’t just his ability to collect—it’s his ability to see what others overlook. While most people walk past piles of garbage without a second glance, Molina looked deeper. He saw potential in the broken, and beauty in the discarded.

His collection is more than just a museum of unwanted things—it’s a testament to the idea that value is often a matter of perspective. It’s about recognizing that even the most ordinary object can be extraordinary if you look at it the right way.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, Nelson Molina’s “Treasure in the Trash” collection has gained recognition, not just from curious visitors, but from artists, historians, and even documentarians. What started as a personal project has become an important reminder about how we consume and dispose of things.

Though Molina has retired from his job with the sanitation department, his legacy lives on through the collection he built. It’s a reminder that everything—whether it’s a broken lamp, an old photograph, or even a life—has worth. We have to take the time to notice it.

Nelson Molina's story shows that there’s beauty in the unexpected and that sometimes, the greatest treasures are found in the most unlikely places.