A container takes on the form of a laundry hamper or basket while static or stationary. Upon bringing front and back panels of the container into closer proximity for transport, such as by drawing together their respective handles, or drawing one of the handles towards the other, the container changes configuration, or shape, to that of a tote bag. Upon releasing at least one of the front and back panels of the container from being drawn towards the other, such as by releasing at least one of their respective handles, the container automatically reverts back to the form of a laundry hamper or basket. The use of substantially rigid front and back panels, coupled with side panels that have resilient upper regions, permit the side panels to take on a spout-like configuration when the container is in its tote bag configuration, and to return to a planar configuration when the container is in its laundry hamper or basket configuration.