That's an excellent and very practical question. Yes, absolutely! Outdoor trash cans with built-in sand or ash trays are specifically designed for smoking areas and are a fantastic solution for managing cigarette waste. They address the common issue of smokers improperly disposing of hot cigarette butts in regular bins, which can be a fire hazard and create odor.
These specialized receptacles typically feature a small, metal bowl or tray filled with sand or a non-combustible granular material on the top. The design is intuitive: smokers can extinguish their cigarette in the sand, ensuring it's fully out, and then dispose of the butt in the same unit, often through a separate opening into a sealed fire-resistant liner. This keeps the main waste compartment safer and cleaner.
You'll find these bins in various materials like durable stainless steel, powder-coated steel, or heavy-duty plastic, commonly installed outside offices, hospitals, university campuses, restaurant patios, parks, and near building entrances. When selecting one, consider capacity, vandal resistance, ease of maintenance, and whether it's anchored. Investing in these purpose-built bins promotes cleaner grounds, reduces fire risk, and shows consideration for all visitors in designated smoking zones.