Solar-powered trash cans have arrived in World Discovery at EPCOT, with a themed version reaching Test Track as well. We found the new bins standing in for the old-style cans in both areas while visiting the park today. Each location gets its own look, with World Discovery keeping the white and red color scheme of the cans it replaces and Test Track adding a ribbon graphic tied to the attraction’s branding. Here’s a closer look at both.
EPCOT’s Trash Can Rollout Reaches World Discovery and Test Track
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- New solar-powered trash and recycling cans have arrived in World Discovery and at Test Track
- World Discovery’s new cans keep the white and red color scheme of the old-style bins
- Test Track’s new cans add a blue ribbon design tied to the attraction’s theming
New Cans Arrive in World Discovery
We spotted new solar-powered trash and recycling cans standing in World Discovery today, marking the area’s first inclusion in the rollout Disney has carried out since piloting the first smart trash can at EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion back in December 2024. As of last week, old-style cans still stood throughout World Discovery.
The new units carry a white body with a red accent panel along the side. It’s the same color pairing used on the old-style cans found throughout World Discovery. A labeled “TRASH” or “RECYCLE” slot sits above a foot pedal at the base of each bin. It’s the same mailbox-style access point Disney has used everywhere else in the rollout. A gray EPCOT globe logo sits on the front of each bin, matching the medallion styling Disney has used elsewhere in the park. Guests can drop items in through the top slot or step on the pedal for hands-free access. A fullness sensor inside each unit alerts custodial Cast Members once it needs emptying.
Disney kept the World Discovery color scheme intact rather than introducing a new look. The cans at The Land Pavilion followed the same pattern. They kept the pavilion’s own red and green wordmark instead of a generic design. Each area’s new cans echo the color or branding already established there rather than replacing it wholesale. That new-matches-old pattern is thanks to work from Walt Disney Imagineering to ensure that the new bins carry any theming that already existed.
A Themed Look Arrives at Test Track
Test Track has also received its own set of new solar-powered cans. This pairing leans further into the attraction’s branding than the general World Discovery units nearby. These cans are white with a blue accent panel wrapped in a hexagonal ribbon graphic, a design pulled directly from the queue and signage found throughout Test Track. A yellow trim line separates the ribbon design from the plain white body above and below it.
We found the new cans stationed near the Test Track attraction entrance and around the building’s exterior. Just like elsewhere, a solar panel under the lid keeps an internal battery charged, and the same trash and recycling pairing sits side by side. Test Track gets a design specific to the attraction itself rather than the general World Discovery look, which is how the old trash cans looked. Disney took a similar approach with The American Adventure’s new cans, which carry the pavilion’s flag crest instead of a plain World Showcase design.
Story So Far
- December 2024: Disney piloted the first solar-powered smart trash can at the Germany Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase.
- 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.
- August 2026: The cans expanded to EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion and to the Asia section of Animal Kingdom.
- August 2026: The cans reached a portion of World Celebration and The Land Pavilion, with old-style cans still standing throughout World Discovery and World Nature at the time.
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!