When it comes to commercial décor decisions, trash can selection is one of the details most often overlooked. Easy to ignore, trash cans represent an asset that is felt more in its absence than its presence. A site without adequate trash management is not only unhygienic and unpleasant for your guests, but causes unnecessary stress to your staff and damage to your property’s value.

When choosing trash cans for your site, it is important to have a clear plan in advance. Here are eight things to consider when developing a trash management strategy for your commercial site.

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• Understand Your Trash Needs. The first step in making a trash management plan is to understand the trash and litter situation in and around your site. This includes knowing the amount of littering that occurs on or near your site, where the accumulation is heaviest, and what type of litter is most likely to be found in each accumulation point. For example, if you find that food packaging litter accumulates near the bus stop, a trash can rated to keep food waste away from pests may be a good choice to install at this location. Similarly, an accumulation of cigarette waste indicates a popular smoking point, where an ashtray and cigarette butt receptacle may be prudent.
• Place Your Trash Cans Properly. When it comes to commercial trash can placement, the gold standard is Walt Disney. When planning Disneyland, he did meticulous research on trash disposal, watching how people behave while they eat and determining how many steps the average person is likely to take before littering if no trash can is available. He figured out that this distance was about thirty feet, which is the distance between trash cans in Disneyland. As a result, Disneyland is one of the cleanest amusement parks in operation.

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The concept is simple: you do not want your commercial site to look like a trash can showroom, but you also do not want your guests lingering around garbage cans because they do not know where the next one is, or worse, just dropping their trash on the ground. To avoid this, you’ll need garbage cans in all the hot spots you identified in step one, as well as at your transition points – such as the entrance/exit, near elevators and stairwells, and near sitting and eating areas – and at regular intervals along the heaviest paths of traffic.

• Have Enough of the Right Type of Cans. The number and size of cans you place on your site should reflect the amount of trash you will collect. This may seem like common sense, but many commercial sites attempt to operate with garbage cans that are far too small. These cans are typically overflowing, or worse, leaking. While having a 35-gallon trash can in a 500-square-foot office lobby may be overkill, it is worse to have a solitary five-gallon wastebasket in a 1,000-squarefoot, multipurpose commercial site. Possibly even worse is having outdoor garbage cans that receive wet trash or food waste, but do not offer proper protection from pests. Such cans lead to smelly and unsightly runoff during intense weather, devaluing the perceived value of your site.
• Have a Proper Waste Disposal Plan. So, you have enough trash cans: that’s great! But how are you going to empty them? Will the front desk staff be responsible for dragging potentially leaky trash bags across your site to the disposal chute? To prevent even the largest trash cans from overflowing and becoming hazardous, you should have a set schedule for the regular and prompt emptying of your cans, reflecting the rate at which trash is expected to accumulate. Make sure all trash cans are correctly installed, with the appropriate covers and anchorage, the right size and style of liners, and replacement cans handy in case of the unforeseeable. You will also need enough trash totes to efficiently and inconspicuously transport your trash to pick-up bins. These totes should be made of metal or plastic for easy cleaning, and should be large enough to collect the trash from all cans on a particular route, but small enough to be easily handled and emptied by one person. Train your staff to collect trash in a way that minimizes inconvenience to guests, utilizing side access doorways and low traffic hallways to ensure quick, hassle-free trash collection.
• Know Your Weather. If your commercial site is in a sunny area, guests may accidentally burn themselves on a hot metal trash. In a rainy area, uncovered garbage cans can lead to runoff. In a cold area, metal garbage cans may cause trash to freeze, and can even stick to guests’ skin. It is important that you are aware of the environmental stressors and special circumstances – environmental or otherwise – that your trash can will be exposed to, and prepare accordingly.
• Consider Having Non-Traditional Containers on Premises. If your commercial property has a large number of pet-walkers using it, it may be wise to provide a purpose-built pet waste receptacle. If your site entertains parents with young children, a receptacle designed to hold diapers near your changing station would be a nice touch. Having these types of cans available not only helps your site make a good impression, it makes it easier for your guests to dispose of waste responsibly, lowering your liability and manpower requirements. Likewise, installing recycling containers not only gives guests the opportunity to make environmentally sound choices themselves, but also lets them know that your site is “green” and a good corporate citizen.
• Think Aesthetically. When it comes to trash cans, function comes before style. However, one must still consider how your trash cans will appeal to customers’ aesthetic sensibilities. A trash can should blend into the décor, not contrast against it. Pick trash cans that are attractive, will control smells, and will be as minimal a distraction from the rest of your commercial site as possible.

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• Educate Your Guests. It is okay to gently remind your guests to use your new trash cans. You can do this through signs, community outreach programs, or by having your staff point out the trash receptacles directly.

When you are ready to make your trash can purchase, a great place to shop is Trashcans Unlimited. Trashcans Unlimited offers the best prices on commercial and decorative trash cans and is a trusted source for all your trash can needs.

If your guests’ comfort and ease are of importance to you, you must anticipate all of their needs, including the less exciting and attractive ones. Establishing and maintaining a proper trash disposal plan may not be glamorous, but it is essential to running a clean and inviting commercial site.