Eight Years Later, the First of Those Fancy New Trash Cans Arrive on SF Streets

"The saga with these trash cans dates back to 2018, when the Department of Public Works embarked on a process to find a new trash can that would work for the city's streets, incorporating a section for recycling, and allowing for removable bins that could be easily emptied by Recology workers."

"The headline being that these trash cans were going to cost the city $20,000 apiece. Now, that figure was based on the design and fabrication of a small number of these prototypes, and did not reflect what the per-can price would be once these were manufactured at scale."

"After on-the-street testing and a public vote in mid-2022, the 'Slim Silhouette' model was selected for the job. And, somehow, it took three years before we heard that the fabrication was underway."

The first eight custom-made rubbish bins have been installed in various San Francisco neighborhoods after a lengthy process that began in 2018. The bins incorporate recycling sections and removable components for easy emptying. The project gained attention in 2021 when the Board of Supervisors approved a contract for 15 prototypes costing $20,000 each. After testing and public voting, the 'Slim Silhouette' model was chosen. Despite the long wait, only eight bins have been installed so far, with one already attracting graffiti.

Read at sfist.com