Singdhi Sokpo / The Hustle
Since 2018, San Francisco has struggled to develop a new public garbage can.
The city’s ideal can has a fullness sensor; is rollable, durable, and tamper-proof; and, most importantly, looks sexy. City officials have reportedly doubled down on the aesthetics part, and it’s driven up costs.
The city’s initial proposal placed per-can costs at <$1k. Today, estimates are closing in on $5k. San Francisco plans to procure 3.3k cans, meaning the project could ultimately total $16.5m.