I’d say this can is among the most confusing I’ve ever seen…I’m not sure if it’s me overthinking it in combination with being nerdy, or if it really does suck that bad.  I’m biased…whenever I see a stone waste receptacle, I instantly cringe.  Is it really necessary?  Especially this one, which appears to be PAINTED stone.  It looks like it used to be gray stone, and then they rattle canned it green to hint that you might be able to recycle stuff here.  I’ll give it the benefit and move on.

So what happened here?  These cans were all over the place… were they originally trash receptacles, and then a crafty welder came along and made tiny recycling amendments for all of them?  Glass and Cans only?  No plastics accepted, although you have a commingled program?  All right.  Why does it say Trash on the underside?  Mixed messages equal crappy compliance and dwindling confidence.

Is this design meant to only hold 5 glass containers or cans?  That’s about all the top can hold.  There’s actually a hinge in the bottom of that thing, and its purpose eludes me.

I’m complaining so much about this that I don’t want to read my writing anymore.  I’m going to try full throttle optimism here: Maybe the can was originally for general waste, then modified for full-on recycling at a time when the city could not accept all the basics.  Maybe all their waste goes to a Material Recovery Facility, therefore triumphing over mixed messages.

Let’s hope this is the case…and if so, make it known.  Scrap all the tops for metal, make little signs on all of your city receptacles that say “This material is sent to a Materials Recovery Facility for Optimal Waste Segregation and Recycling.”

Headache.  Bedtime.  Happy holidays.