Today we’re not talking about just any trash can, instead we are talking about New York City’s new better bin.
Problems with trash in the street are nothing new for New York. As far back as 1873, people were complaining about trash in the streets, but there were no street trash cans until 1930. In fact, when they rolled out the first trash cans, they weren’t sure people would even know how to use them. Those first receptacles were the result of a design contest, which was won by a man from Chicago who received $500.
The 1930s saw a huge push to clean up the streets. This was the era that birthed the department of sanitation as we know it today, but nearly 100 years later, the city is still fighting trash. And the design of the city’s official street trash can, the green wire mesh basket, had been largely unchanged since the 1950s, when they made the mesh smaller.
To try to improve the street trash can, the city launched the Better Bin design contest in 2018. The goals were to create a bin: that held up just as well, if not better, than the wire mesh; which could be easily picked up and handled by sanitation workers; and which would discourage rats. Because of how open the wire mesh basket is, it’s easy for rats and other critters to get in there.
Two designs made it to the final stage. One from Group Project, and one from Smart Design.
Ultimately, Group Project won. The design features a split top which flips open, releasing the inner basket. The basket has holes to allow drainage, but is largely covered, keeping trash out of sight. Even though it may look like it, the split top is not intended to create separate compartments for trash and recycling.
The winner was announced in 2019, but with the onset of COVID and a change of mayoral administration, nothing happened until 2023. But then, after years of waiting, the better bin started going into service. To date there are 5,000 of them out there.
But there are still over 15,000 other bins out there. In fact, only about 5,000 of the remaining bins are even the green wire mesh type that the better bin was set to replace. The remaining 10,000 are a whole world of trash can varieties. These bins are different types, some of which are managed by the Department of Sanitation, but many of which are managed by Business Improvement Districts or specific city council members.
Nevertheless, the Better Bin is certainly on the rise across New York City. So, the next time you throw out some trash on the street, take a look at what you’re throwing it into, and ask yourself: is it better?