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Show your pride and prepare for Canada Day with our flags & banners >>
Walt Disney World – the place where dreams are made! While you may not make the connection right away between Classic Displays and the happiest place in the world, we assure you we have more in common than you think.
We both create wonder and awe with our incredible decorations, turning spaces into literal wonderlands. And we both care about something especially important:
TRASH!
OK, not necessarily trash itself, but clean and healthy public spaces. How do you make sure you have clean and healthy public spaces? You have trash bins – and take a page out of Disney World's playbook by using their secrets.
So, shall we steal these Disney World secrets for cleaner public spaces? Let’s get into it.
Placing trash cans in high-traffic areas such as streets, parks, and public venues has been an effective way to prevent littering. Research shows people are more likely to toss their waste properly if a trash can is accessible.
Disney is all about making magic. But they're not likely to completely divulge what makes it so special... other than the mascots, of course. But what if we told you that the real magic was related to... trash cans? Trash cans.
You could even say Walt Disney himself revolutionized the modern-day trash can. But how exactly do you innovate a trash can, you may ask? Luckily for you, we have more on the secrets that make Disney World parks so clean.
Walt Disney was doing what most patrons of the park do: having a hot dog. That was when he realized it took about 30 steps before he was done eating the hot dog. This inspired him to watch guests and see how long it took them before they needed to throw something away. It was then he realized that to keep his park magical, it needed to be CLEAN.
This is where he developed the 30-step rule.
This rule meant that there needed to be a trash can every 30 feet to enable patrons to throw trash away and keep the park clean. A clean park proved to improve the overall customer experience and, overall, maintained that feeling of magic that Disney is known for.
It’s also speculated Walt Disney was the one who designed cans to have swinging doors to help eliminate the sight and smell of trash.
Let’s break down what makes Disneyworld’s trash cab system down further:
Disney World takes the typical trash can experience and elevates it seamlessly matching the style of the cans with specific areas of the park. Tomorrowland bins have a more futuristic design, while Adventureland’s are a little more rustic. This attention to stylistic choices makes the trash cans seem less of an eyesore and enhances the overall experience of the park.
See our Froggo Novelty Bin and our Tidy Bear Novelty Bin.
Many Disney World trash cabs use a swinging door to keep trash out of sight, out of mind – all while maintaining the smell. This design is also carefully crafted to help keep pests out of accessing the contents of the bin.
Would you believe us if we told you that areas of Disney World have something called an Automated Vacuum Collection System? Also known as AVAC, trash is deposited into an underground vacuum mechanism that moves the waste to a central collection point, meaning most trash cans won’t need to be manually collected throughout the day.
Disney World promotes recycling by providing dual-purpose bins that separate regular trash from recycling. These bins are designed to be clearly labelled and encourage an eco-friendlier approach to managing waste.
See our Griffin Waste/Recycling Container and our Monteregien Waste Station.
Employees of the park are trained to make cleanliness a top priority. Trash cans are regularly emptied to prevent overflow and poor odour. Trash cans are also regularly washed to maintain their clean appearance.
Trash cans are designed to be accessible and innovative – no Plain Jane trash cans here. They have wide openings and are typically placed in high-traffic areas where guests are far more likely to use them, such as near food vendors, benches, and exits from rides.
Disney subtly encourages proper disposal behaviour by ensuring that trash cans are always within sight, deterring guests from being tempted to litter. Additionally, the cleaner a space is kept, the more likely people will have a “keep it clean mentality.” People are less likely to want to toss trash onto a pristine pathway than one that has already been littered upon.
Disney World incorporates sustainable materials in its trash can production and evolves its waste management practices to align with environmental goals, such as reducing landfill waste.
Now that we’ve broken down how the happiest place in the world does it, let’s explore how you can keep your outdoor spaces clean in style. While we don’t necessarily expect you to adapt to every option, there are some feasible ways to improve the cleanliness of your community.
Clean trash cans frequently: City staff and volunteers should not just regularly empty them but also clean them. Use a multi-purpose degreaser to clean the grime off the interior and exterior of the can. This will also help deter pests, such as flies and wasps, that deter patrons from using trash cans.
Manage pests: As mentioned, cleaning can help manage pests, but there are other things you can do, too. This includes having secured lids and regularly emptying trash cans to help avoid pests collecting around the trash can.
Place trash cans in high-traffic areas: Make sure to strategically place trash cans around your city and town in areas where you anticipate the public will use them. That includes outside of restaurants and food stands, in public parks with outdoor benches and tables, and outside of public restrooms.
Don’t forget recycling: Offer multi-purpose options that enable the public to safely dispose of trash, plastic, and paper so they have options of getting rid of their litter. This also aligns with sustainability goals and making your community a cleaner, greener space.
Offer trash cans with style: Pick options that make sense for the area you’re placing them. A fun or themed trash can could be great in a park that regularly has children. Pick a multi-purpose trash can to be placed near downtown restaurants and businesses. Have a secured trash can along memorial parks and walkways to minimize pests.
Classic Displays has been known for providing holiday magic and cheer to the public for more than 46 years. We offer large and 3D holiday displays that turn malls, tower halls, and public spaces into literal winter wonderlands. However, we also offer more practical furniture options! Our collection of site furniture makes your community a cleaner, greener, and more accessible space for everyone.
If you need trash cans, memorial benches, bike racks and more, Classic Displays has everything you need.
If you want to make your community a litter-free space, work with Classic Displays to find the trash disposal options that work best for you. We have a variety of options for you to choose from and will work alongside you to determine your needs.
Our Canadian-designed and manufactured commercial-quality site furniture includes:
Benches & Picnic Tables: Built to meet AODA, municipal, and national accessibility standards.
Waste & Recycling Containers: Durable solutions for both indoor and outdoor locations.
Cycling Infrastructure & Planters: Practical, commercial-grade options for any environment.
Most of our site furniture proudly qualifies as Products of Canada.
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