New Solar-Powered Trash Cans Now line Hollywood Blvd. at Disney's Hollywood Studios

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Wednesday September 9, 2026 7:37am ET · "Disney's Hollywood Studios"
New Solar-Powered Trash Cans Now line Hollywood Blvd. at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Solar-powered Bigbelly Smart Max trash and recycling cans are now installed along Hollywood Blvd. and the entrance plaza, matching units already deployed at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom.

New trash and recycling cans are now in place at Disney's Hollywood Studios. You'll spot them in the main entrance plaza before the main entrance and along Hollywood Blvd.

The cans are green, with a "Please Help Keep Our City Clean" seal on the front. Each one has a labeled Trash or Recycle opening with a foot pedal, so you don't have to touch the door.

These bins are Bigbelly Smart Max units. They're the same base model that's already rolled out at EPCOT and Disney's Animal Kingdom, just in a different color and design for Hollywood Studios. The Smart Max compacts trash as it collects, so cast members don't have to empty it as often.

A few reasons why Disney is switching to the new cans: they're solar-powered, so no wiring is needed. Sensors track fullness level and send that data to cast members, so bins get emptied before they overflow. And the compactor holds roughly 5 to 10 times more trash than a standard bin before it needs collecting.

You can already see the new cans in the entrance plaza and spaced along Hollywood Blvd. Expect them to keep spreading through the rest of the park as the rollout continues.

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New Solar-Powered Trash Cans Now line Hollywood Blvd. at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Solar-powered Bigbelly Smart Max trash and recycling cans have arrived at Hollywood Studios, lining the entrance plaza and Hollywood Blvd. They're the same units already deployed at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, but in a different color scheme, and each one compacts waste to hold roughly 5 to 10 times more than a standard bin.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/Disneys-Hollywood-Studios/news/08sep2026-new-solar-powered-trash-cans-now-line-hollywood-blvd-at-disney-s-hollywood-studios.htm
They are also in the Guardians and Remmy interior queues.
The solar trash cans are also in The Land pavillion.
The photos are a great example of why these are not an ideal design for a theme park. Having doors on 2 side is much better for easy guest use.

Yes I care about trash can designs!!!!
↩ replying to Ayla
I only saw a few, mostly old cans there.

New cans are also in the DHS Skyliner station.
↩ replying to HauntedPirate
I saw both new and old, new mainly on top floor, which I found odd, since they are inside. 🤷🏻‍♀️
as a note - the traditional trash can design does date back to the era of Walt Disney.

I wonder if California is putting up a fight about them, cause it seems a few people still care about the history of the place.
Universal seems to be trending this way too.
Somewhere a poor intern is being tasked with designing merch for these.
↩ replying to wedenterprises
I'm sure whoever's been manufacturing the tiny old-style trash cans would be able to make a new mold!
↩ replying to MisterPenguin
I've got a few of the tiny old style ones, but how the heck do I work The tiny new style ones. They are so confusing.