Walt Disney World has released an instructional video to help guests navigate its new solar-powered trash cans, which have been popping up across the resort and causing a fair amount of confusion along the way. The short clip features Cast Members showing two methods for opening the bins: pressing a foot pedal or manually pulling open the trash chute.
The cans are also compactors, meaning they can hold significantly more waste than the older models before needing to be emptied — a practical upgrade for one of the busiest theme park destinations in the world. Disney has confirmed the solar-powered bins are headed to all four Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs, the water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and additional resort locations throughout the year.
The rollout hasn't been without its quirks. Observers have spotted guests stuffing garbage into the handles rather than the chute, and the design varies slightly by location — the cans at Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom feature large metal handles that make opening more intuitive, while bins at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom lack those handles.
Accessibility is also a genuine concern worth noting. The taller height and foot-pedal design may pose challenges for wheelchair users, guests with certain mobility limitations, and younger children who can't easily reach the flap or operate the pedal. The fully rounded tops — a departure from the flat lids on older cans — have also drawn some good-natured grumbling from guests who've relied on those surfaces for balancing festival food.
This story was first reported by WDW News Today.
