Great question! Yes, you can absolutely find these smart urban trash cans in operation across many global cities today. They're not just prototypes.
For instance, in Singapore's Marina Bay district, you'll see solar-powered compacting bins that alert sanitation teams when full. Barcelona has integrated similar smart bins into its "Superblocks" urban redesign. In London's Tech City, solar-powered Bigbelly bins with compaction are common. Dubai installed AI-powered recycling stations that sort waste and reward users in malls and parks. Many university campuses, like MIT and NUS, also use them to manage high-footfall areas efficiently.
The common locations are high-traffic urban zones: downtown cores, public transport hubs, major parks, tourist attractions, and innovation districts. The goal is to manage waste more efficiently in crowded areas while collecting valuable fill-level data. It's a practical step toward smarter city infrastructure that's already live in numerous locations.