Over the last couple weeks, you might have noticed some vibrant new trashcans appearing around Downtown Tacoma.
But these aren’t just any trashcans; These new pieces of infrastructure are solar-powered E-Cube trash compactors, which are able to hold 5x more garbage, while preventing waste from overflowing out of the bins, and helping improve street cleanliness.
In addition to the environmental and sanitary benefits that these new E-Cubes provide, they also offer a unique interactive experience. These trashcans are being distributed throughout Downtown Tacoma in neighborhoods that are full of history and have stories to tell. With that in mind, and in an effort to make our city as clean and sustainable as possible, the Downtown Tacoma Partnership and City of Tacoma developed the concept for Trashcan Time Machine, where people can place their trash and visit the past by learning about some of the significant historical events that have taken place downtown over the decades.
Each Trashcan Time Machine is unique and features a QR code on the front of the can. Use your smartphone and scan the code to see a historical photo from the exact place that you’re standing. Trashcan time travelers will also see a caption providing some context about what is taking place in the photo, in order to get a better glimpse of what life was like in Tacoma’s earlier days.
With 12 of the 28 new trashcans currently out in the public, the Downtown Tacoma Partnership is seeking community input for the remaining 16 trashcans. It is our hope to share historical stories that represent the diversity of our city and its BIPOC communities correlating to Downtown Tacoma. Do you have story suggestions? We would love to hear from you! Please fill out our easy online form to share your thoughts about potential stories for future Trashcan Time Machines to highlight.
Don’t forget that April is Earth Month, so help do your part to keep downtown clean by throwing your trash away while experiencing what it was like in Downtown Tacoma throughout the decades.
