Disney World is changing something guests see hundreds of times during a vacation, even if they rarely give it much thought.
The trash cans.
Over the past couple of years, Disney has experimented with solar-powered smart trash cans capable of compacting waste and alerting Cast Members when they need attention.
What started as a limited EPCOT test has grown considerably.
The latest expansion is happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where more solar trash and recycling cans have moved into Asia.
And Disney isn't finished.
New Trash Cans Are Appearing Throughout Asia
The new units have reached several portions of Asia, including Maharajah Jungle Trek.
Guests can also find them near the Discovery Island bridge and in western areas of the land.
For now, Disney is mixing old with new.
Traditional brown trash cans remain in some locations, particularly toward Expedition Everest. However, the arrival of additional solar cans shows that Disney’s larger conversion continues moving forward.
Guests will have no trouble telling the two designs apart.
The newer units are taller and more rectangular. They feature dark green finishes and curved solar panels on top. Disney generally places them in pairs, with one serving as a trash can and the other collecting recycling.
Despite those changes, one familiar piece of Asia remains.
The Tiger Isn’t Going Anywhere
Disney has preserved the red triangle and gold tiger artwork used on Asia’s older trash cans.
It's a smart move considering how much effort Animal Kingdom puts into theming even the smallest details.
The new cans might have a modern shape and visible solar technology, but the familiar tiger artwork helps them connect with their surroundings.
Disney used a similar strategy when the smart cans previously reached Animal Kingdom’s entrance and The Oasis.
Those versions received Tree of Life artwork.
Now that the rollout has reached Asia, Disney has shown that the company can continue changing the artwork as these cans enter different parts of its parks.
That could become important considering just how widespread Disney plans for them to become.
Why Disney Is Making the Switch
There’s much more to these cans than a solar panel.
The solar power operates an internal compactor. That allows the cans to hold more waste than they could without compression.
The units also contain sensors that can tell custodial Cast Members when they’re nearly full.
Guests place their trash or recycling through an opening near the top. A foot pedal provides a hands-free option.
Those features could be particularly useful at Walt Disney World, where massive crowds create plenty of waste every day.
Fewer overflowing cans and more information about which locations actually need service could make life easier for custodial teams.
Of course, Disney had to test the idea before bringing it everywhere.
One Trash Can Turned Into a Resort-Wide Project
The story goes back to December 2024.
Disney placed its first solar-powered smart trash can in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion as a pilot program.
By May 2025, the test had grown to around 10 units throughout Germany.
Then the project took a significant step forward.
Disney confirmed in June 2026 that solar-powered cans would expand to all four Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach.
Walt Disney Imagineering has also been involved with the design work.
Animal Kingdom received its first themed versions in July, with new cans appearing around the entrance plaza and The Oasis. The newest expansion into Asia shows how quickly the project is beginning to move beyond those initial locations.
The Old Disney Trash Cans Aren’t Gone Yet
This isn't a complete replacement at Animal Kingdom.
Guests can still find traditional trash cans throughout Asia and elsewhere around the park.
But the mixture of old and new might tell us more about where Disney is headed.
Rather than replacing everything at once, Disney appears to be introducing the solar cans gradually. As that process continues, traditional cans could become less common in the areas receiving the newer technology.
Even one famous Disney World tradition appears capable of surviving the transition.
Guests regularly turn Disney trash cans into makeshift tables, especially during EPCOT festivals. The curved solar panels created questions about whether that would remain possible.
Apparently, guests have already figured it out. Trays have even been spotted stacked on some of the newer units.
Some Disney World habits are difficult to kill.
For now, the biggest story is simply how quickly this project has grown.
A single test at EPCOT has turned into a planned resort-wide rollout. Animal Kingdom’s Asia section is the latest area to see the change firsthand.
And with Disney planning to put these solar-powered cans throughout its parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, guests should probably get used to seeing them.
The solar trash can takeover is just getting started.
