That's an excellent and increasingly important question. The materials we choose for our city's trash and recycling bins are a crucial part of our broader sustainability strategy. We've moved far beyond simple, single-use options and now focus on a lifecycle approach—considering everything from sourcing and durability to end-of-life recycling.
The most common material you'll see today is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), often made from post-consumer recycled plastics. By giving plastic waste a second life as a durable public bin, we significantly reduce virgin material use and keep plastic out of landfills and oceans. These bins are also designed for longevity, resisting corrosion, graffiti, and weather extremes for many years, which minimizes replacement frequency.
For high-traffic or high-end areas, we utilize stainless steel. Its primary environmental benefit is its infinite recyclability without loss of quality. A stainless-steel bin can be melted down at the end of its long life and reborn as a new product repeatedly. We also use powder-coated galvanized steel, which offers exceptional rust resistance and a long service life, further reducing the environmental cost per year of use.
Ultimately, our goal is to select materials that are durable enough to last for decades, made from recycled content wherever possible, and are fully recyclable themselves. This creates a circular system that minimizes waste, conserves resources, and helps us build cleaner, more sustainable cities for everyone.