Garbage bins are so normal in a busy urban city like Toronto that most people don’t think twice about them. Research has shown, however, that their placement and abundance has a significant impact on the amount of waste that is littered in the urban environment.
The problem with this is that it can only go so far— not only is there a finite amount of space and resources limiting more garbage bins, but each bin in service requires regular maintenance.
Project Overview
In collaboration with the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA), we are approaching the problem of street litter by studying garbage bin design. In 2024, the DYBIA started piloting several new designs— bins that are more user friendly, as well as high-tech bins with capacity sensors and solar-powered compactors.
We are interested in the efficacy of modern bin designs at reducing street litter, closing a source of pollution, and beautifying urban environments. At its core, our question is simple: do better-designed garbage bins reduce the amount of garbage that is littered in the urban environment?
Our research includes three types of garbage bins: an older model of Astral bins (WR4), a new design of Astral bins (WR5), and solar-powered self-compacting bins with sensors installed. The latter two were rolled out as part of a pilot project in late 2024.
Left to right: older Astral bin (WR4), new conventional Astral bin (WR5), self-compacting bin
This Project Aims to
- Characterize litter near garbage bins to assess whether litter varies around different bin types.
- Assess the condition of garbage bins to see whether different bins maintain a better condition over time.
- Observe user behaviour when disposing of waste to see whether some bins encourage more correct usage than others.
Our Approach
Objective 1: Litter Transects
To understand the kind of litter discarded near bins, we are taking measurements of litter on the ground near them.
Objective 2: Bin Condition Audit
When bins are vandalised, overflowing, smelly, or otherwise unappealing, it’s hard to fault pedestrians for not wanting to use them. We are conducting a comprehensive survey of the condition of garbage bins across the DYBIA to understand if bins in better condition reduce street litter.
Objective 3: User Observation Study
To understand how users interact with garbage bins, we are conducting observations on a series of garbage bins around Downtown Yonge and the Waterfront to see whether newer garbage bins will positively impact proper use and waste sorting.
We believe that good infrastructure (user friendly and aesthetically pleasing bins) is a strong tool for litter reduction on land and in the water. We aim to inform better bins for cleaner streets for both people and animals to enjoy
This project is led by Rein Maynard, an undergraduate in Biodiversity, Conservation Biology and Political Science at the University of Toronto. He is also a Fighting Floatables research assistant with the U of T Trash Team.
For more information, please email Rein Maynard or Chelsea Rochman.
This project is collaboration with the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area.
