Solar-powered trash cans have expanded into a portion of World Celebration and a portion of The Land Pavilion at EPCOT. We found the new smart trash cans along with old-style cans in both areas. Disney has not replaced every can in either spot yet. Here’s a look at what’s new in each location!
New Solar Trash Cans Reach World Celebration and The Land at EPCOT
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- New solar-powered trash and recycling cans have arrived in portions of World Celebration and The Land Pavilion
- Old-style cans remain standing in both areas alongside the new bins
- The Land’s new cans carry the pavilion’s logo, while World Celebration’s carry blue accents
Solar Cans Arrive in World Celebration and The Land
We found new solar-powered trash and recycling cans standing in a portion of World Celebration. They’re paired together in the walkways around the central hub. Each new unit carries blue accent panels along the sides, just like the old bins. A labeled “TRASH” or “RECYCLE” slot sits above a foot pedal at the base. The design matches the features Disney has highlighted elsewhere in the rollout.
Old-style cans haven’t disappeared from World Celebration yet. We spotted a rounded, riveted trash can near Creations Shop. Disney appears to be swapping cans in stages, similar to what we’ve seen in World Showcase and other parks.
Inside and outside The Land Pavilion, the new solar-powered cans carry a different look. Rather than a color accent, these units display The Land’s own logo; the red and green wordmark is familiar for fans of EPCOT. We found pairs of the new cans outside the entrance to the pavilion, and near the escalators leading down toward Soarin’ Across America and Living with the Land.
Old-style cans remain in The Land too. Inside the pavilion’s Sunshine Season food court seating area, older cans still sit in their original locations. These trash cans are sort of like built-ins in some locations, so a replacement here might not make a ton of sense. That said, I’m sure that having trash cans that can compact would be a wonderful feature for the food court area.
Where the Rollout Stands Across EPCOT
Old-style cans still stand throughout World Discovery and World Nature. Neither has seen the new solar units yet. Disney’s rollout began in World Showcase before expanding outward, and EPCOT appears to be on track to become the first theme park with a full replacement. Every park is expected to get the new cans eventually.
Story So Far
- December 2024: Disney piloted the first solar-powered smart trash can at the Germany Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase.
- May 2025: The pilot expanded to roughly 10 units throughout the Germany Pavilion.
- June 2026: Disney confirmed plans to bring the solar-powered cans to all four theme parks, both water parks, and Disney Springs, with Walt Disney Imagineering involved in the design work.
- July 2026: The cans debuted at Animal Kingdom with a Tree of Life decal, following an earlier, unthemed debut of test bins at Magic Kingdom.
- August 2026: The cans expanded to EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion and to the Asia section of Animal Kingdom.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!