You’re wandering around Ancient’s Landing, trying to make the place look like a tropical paradise, but there’s a problem. There are these glowing, floating metallic junk piles everywhere. They’re called Timeless Trash. If you’ve picked up the A Rift in Time DLC for Disney Dreamlight Valley, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You want them gone. Jafar wants them gone—though mostly because he wants you to do his busy work. The Village Project Timeless Trash Dreamlight Valley quest is the specific hurdle standing between you and a clean Eternity Isle.
It’s annoying. I get it. You see a cool spot for a fountain or a bench, but a copper-colored heap of scrap is blocking the grid. You can't just pick it up with your hands. You can't shovel it. You need a very specific upgrade for your Royal Hourglass to turn that "trash" into actual resources.
Why the Timeless Trash Quest Triggers So Much Confusion
Most players hit a wall because the game doesn't just hand you the solution. You have to earn it through the Timebending Table. This quest isn't just a side chore; it's a fundamental tutorial on how to upgrade your tools in the expansion. Basically, if you don't finish this, you’re stuck with a cluttered map for the rest of your playthrough.
The quest is technically part of the "Village Project" series that Merlin and Jafar toss at you. To get started, you have to progress far enough into the main story of the DLC to have unlocked the Royal Hourglass and met Jafar at the holographic stations. He’ll eventually get tired of looking at the mess and tell you to do something about it. This is where the real grind begins. You aren't just clicking a button. You’re hunting for specific materials across the biomes.
What You Actually Need to Clear the Debris
To "extinguish" the Timeless Trash, you need the Large Copper Rocks upgrade or, more specifically, the ability to clear the Small and Large Glass Overgrowth and Timeless Trash piles. The quest specifically asks you to craft the Hourglass Upgrade.
Don't go looking for a crafting station in the Plaza. You need the Timebending Table.
Here is the breakdown of what you need to gather. It’s a bit of a grocery list, honestly. You need 500 Mist. That’s the easy part. You get Mist by doing literally anything on Eternity Isle—removing Splinters of Fate, completing Mist Duties, or just waving your Hourglass around until it finds a hidden treasure.
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Then comes the specific stuff. You’ll need Ancient Plates. These are found by using your Hourglass (the "search" function) anywhere on the Isle. It’s RNG-based, so you might get a lot of oars or gears before you find the plates. Keep at it. You also need Copper. Copper is everywhere. Hit the bronze-colored rocks with your pickaxe in the Docks, the Courtyard, or the Overlook. You’ll have more than you know what to do with in ten minutes.
The Crafting Process
Once you have the goods, head to the Timebending Table. Select "Upgrades."
You’re looking for the Level 1 Hourglass Upgrade.
Wait.
I’ve seen people get confused here. They think the upgrade itself clears the trash. It doesn't. The upgrade allows you to then craft the specialized "Potions" or "Manuals" for your tools, but for the Timeless Trash specifically, upgrading the Hourglass to Level 1 is the primary gatekeeper. Once that Hourglass is leveled up, Jafar basically gives you the "recipe" or the permission to start clearing those copper-looking mounds.
Dealing With the "Small" vs "Large" Issue
In Dreamlight Valley, everything comes in two sizes. Small piles and Large piles.
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The initial Village Project Timeless Trash Dreamlight Valley tasks usually focus on the small ones. You’ll walk up to a pile of floating scrap, interact with it, and your Hourglass will pulse. The trash disappears, and you usually get some Glass or Mist in return. It’s satisfying.
But then you’ll see the massive ones. The ones that look like a whole engine block is floating in the air. You can't touch those yet.
To clear the Large Timeless Trash, you have to upgrade your Hourglass to Level 2. This costs 10,000 Mist. Yeah, the price jump is steep. It’s a classic Gameloft move to keep you grinding. Honestly, don't rush the Level 2 upgrade unless you’re a completionist who can't stand seeing a single piece of junk on the beach. Focus on opening new biomes like the Wild Tangle or the Glittering Dunes first.
Common Glitches and How to Avoid Them
The DLC has been out for a while, but bugs still crawl in. Sometimes, the quest won't track your progress. You’ll clear a pile, and the counter stays at 0/10.
If this happens, try the "save and quit" method. It’s the oldest trick in the book for a reason. Usually, a hard reload of the zone forces the quest tracker to realize you’ve actually done the work. Also, make sure you are in the specific sub-biome the quest asks for. If Jafar wants you to clear trash in the Courtyard, clearing it in the Docks won't count, even though they are right next to each other.
Another tip: bring a Timebending companion. If you’ve assigned a character (like Eve or Gaston) the Timebending role, they have a chance to double the loot you find while searching for those Ancient Plates. It makes the "Village Project" go by twice as fast.
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The Strategy for Efficient Mist Farming
Since this project—and almost every other project on Eternity Isle—requires Mist, you need a strategy. Don't just wander aimlessly.
- Check your Mist Duties constantly. These are the "daily" tasks like "Take a photo of a Monkey" or "Cook a meal with Bamboo." They give small amounts of Mist that add up quickly.
- Clean up the Splinters of Fate. Every day, new purple thorns (Splinters) grow. Each one gives you a bit of Mist.
- The "Hidden Treasure" Loop. Walk the perimeter of every unlocked zone with your Hourglass out. There are usually 3-5 hidden treasures per zone that refresh every few hours.
Final Steps for the Village Project
Once you’ve cleared the required number of piles and talked to Jafar at one of his many holographic stations, the quest will wrap up. You’ll get some experience, maybe some friendship points if a villager was involved, and most importantly, the ability to keep your valley tidy.
The real reward is the Glass. Timeless Trash is one of the best sources of Glass in the game, which you’ll need for crafting high-end furniture and those fancy "Scramblecoin" pieces if you’re into the mini-game.
Don't let the scrap metal sit there. It’s literally free money and crafting material waiting to be harvested.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough:
- Prioritize the Level 1 Hourglass Upgrade at the Timebending Table immediately after unlocking the quest.
- Farm Copper in the Docks if you run low; it’s the most common drop from the bronze rock spots.
- Equip a Timebending Buddy before you start hunting for Ancient Plates to minimize the RNG grind.
- Clear the Small Trash first to build up the Mist required for the more expensive Level 2 and Level 3 tool upgrades.
- Save your Glass. You’ll need it for the "Wayward Spirits" quest and other late-game furniture builds involving the sunbird feeders.
The grind is real, but once those metallic eyesores are gone, Ancient's Landing actually looks like a place worth living in. Keep your Hourglass charged and your eyes peeled for those Ancient Plates.
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