What belongs in Trash vs. just deleting an item?

Anything that a stakeholder might ask about again. If someone requested a feature and you decided not to build it, put it in Trash with the reason. If an internal idea was briefly discussed and immediately dismissed, it probably does not need a Trash entry.

Should I archive old Trash items?

Yes. Every quarter, move the oldest Trash items to a separate "Archive" slide or document. Keep the Trash column to 5-8 items. The goal is a scannable snapshot, not a complete history.

Can I use different rejection categories?

Absolutely. "Low ROI," "No demand," "Wrong market," "Superseded," "Too expensive," and "Out of scope" are common. Pick 3-5 that fit your team and use them consistently.

How do I handle items that move from Trash back to Later?

It happens. Add a note like "Re-evaluated: new customer data supports demand." The point is that re-raising requires new evidence, not just repetition. ---

Now-Next-Later-Trash Roadmap Template

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

This free PowerPoint template extends the classic now-next-later framework with a fourth column: Trash. The Trash column holds items you have explicitly decided not to build, along with the reason. It makes deprioritization visible, prevents zombie ideas from resurfacing, and builds stakeholder trust by showing that every request was considered.

What This Template Includes

Cover slide. Title, subtitle, and accent bar in a clean layout.
Instructions slide. Six-step guide covering how to populate all four columns, including deprioritization best practices.
Blank template slide. Four columns (Now, Next, Later, Trash) with color-coded headers, subtitles, and dashed placeholder areas.
Filled example slide. A complete roadmap with sample initiatives across all four columns, including rejection reasons in the Trash column.

Why PowerPoint for a Now-Next-Later-Trash Roadmap

The original now-next-later format is already one of the most popular roadmap formats for agile teams. Adding the Trash column solves a real problem: ideas that were discussed and rejected keep getting re-raised because there is no record of the decision.

PowerPoint is the right format because this roadmap is a communication artifact. You present it in sprint reviews, share it in Slack, and drop it into quarterly planning decks. The .pptx file works offline, prints well, and opens in Google Slides for browser-based collaboration.

For teams that use prioritization frameworks to score ideas, the Trash column becomes the natural home for items that scored below the cut line.

Template Structure

Now. Active Work

Items currently in development. Confidence is High. Limit to 3-5 items to prevent context switching. Each card shows the initiative name, owning team, and confidence level.

Next. Committed Queue

Validated items that will start when current work ships. Confidence is Medium. These have clear problem statements and proposed solutions but are not yet in a sprint.

Later. Future Direction

Directional items backed by early signals from user research or strategy. Confidence is Low. They communicate where the product is headed without committing resources.

Trash. Explicitly Deprioritized

This is the column that makes this template different. Items here were considered and rejected. Each card carries a rejection reason: "Low ROI," "No demand," "Wrong market," or "Superseded." The Trash column serves three purposes:

Prevents re-raising. When a stakeholder asks "What about feature X?", you point to the Trash column and the documented reason.
Shows consideration. Stakeholders see that their request was evaluated, not ignored.
Creates an audit trail. If market conditions change, you can re-evaluate Trash items with fresh evidence rather than starting from zero.

How to Use This Template

1. Start with Now and Next

Populate the first two columns from your current sprint plan and backlog. These should be familiar if you already use a now-next-later roadmap.

2. Populate Later from discovery

Add items from your opportunity backlog, customer requests, and strategic bets. These signal direction without commitment.

3. Move rejected items to Trash with a reason

For every item you chose not to build, add it to Trash with a one-line reason. Be specific: "Low ROI" is better than "Not now." The reason is what prevents the item from being re-raised without new evidence.

4. Review and rotate weekly

Items flow between columns as you learn more. A Later item might move to Trash if validation fails. A Trash item might move to Later if market conditions change. The roadmap should always reflect current thinking.

5. Present the Trash column explicitly

When presenting to stakeholders, walk through the Trash column. It builds trust: "We evaluated these items and chose not to build them for these reasons." This is especially effective in stakeholder communication.

When to Use This Template

This format works best for:

Teams that struggle with "zombie" requests that keep resurfacing after being deprioritized
Product leaders who want a visible record of what was considered and why it was rejected
Stakeholder management scenarios where showing the full decision landscape builds trust
Portfolio reviews where leadership needs to see not just what you are building, but what you chose to skip
Agile teams that want the simplicity of now-next-later with explicit deprioritization

If you do not need the Trash column, the standard Now-Next-Later PowerPoint template is simpler. If you need date-based planning, try the Quarterly Product Roadmap template.

Key Takeaways

The Trash column makes deprioritization explicit and visible.
Documented rejection reasons prevent zombie requests from resurfacing.
The format builds stakeholder trust by showing every request was considered.
Review weekly. Items flow between all four columns as evidence changes.
Use consistent rejection categories: Low ROI, No demand, Wrong market, Superseded.
Compatible with Google Slides, Keynote, and LibreOffice Impress. Upload the .pptx to Google Drive to edit collaboratively in your browser.

Now-Next-Later-Trash Roadmap Template for PowerPoint