A new solar-powered trash can has been installed in World Showcase at EPCOT, indicating Walt Disney World is testing the technology.
Solar Trash Can Installed at EPCOT
The trash can is located next to a recycling bin near the Germany Pavilion. Side by side with the old style, it’s clear how much bigger this can is. It’s the same standard brown as other World Showcase trash cans.
The trash can has solar panels built into the top. It has both a handle and a foot pedal to open the chute. The black handle is for Cast Members to open the trash can door to empty it.
The foot pedal allows guests to throw away trash without touching the can with their hands, a more sanitary option. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney propped open trash can lids. They later tested contactless trash cans without swinging lids but these have not become widespread at the parks.
The trash can was manufactured by Bigbelly, which creates various smart waste receptacles.
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Bigbelly
This appears to be the Bigbelly Smart. The solar panels power unseen features (not the chute opening mechanism). These include sensors that monitor and report the fullness level of the trash can, collection activity, bin status, and GPS location. Information is then communicated back to a CLEAN Management Console. If Disney installs more of these cans, they could monitor the entire system with the CLEAN software.
The LED indicator on the side of the bin shows the charge level. Though the color of the light isn’t visible in our photos, it was green.
The Bigbelly Smart has a 50-gallon (189 liters) capacity and is made of corrosion-resistant materials.
The Bigbelly trash can is likely being tested right now and if Disney finds it to be successful, we could see more installed in the coming months.
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