Smart New Waste Infrastructure in Downtown Tulsa
Downtown Tulsa is turning heads with a fresh approach to waste infrastructure! At the core of the Downtown area lies the Deco District, a lively, walkable area known for its ornate Art Deco architecture, vibrant street life and cultural destinations. As part of the city’s efforts to enhance cleanliness and reduce litter in this popular and heavily visited zone, metroSTOR has partnered with the Downtown Tulsa Partnership (DTP) to introduce a new generation of waste container enclosures
The project has developed in two exciting phases; with Phase 1 being the initial install of the units followed by the amazing graphic art wraps in Phase 2.
With approximately 30 open-top trash cans clustered in the central Deco District, city managers sought a solution that would reduce the number of units required while increasing overall trash capacity. It was important that the new units protected against windblown litter and pest intrusion while also complementing the visual character of this historic downtown area.
Downtown Tulsa Partnership selected 25 metroSTOR RCF-Series. These are robust front-loading trash enclosures with foot-pedal operation and a fully enclosed design. These units support 35 or 70-gallon pull-out liners, enabling DTP to boost total capacity without needing to maintain the same number of trashcans. The result is fewer units, cleaner streets and a more efficient waste collection operation.
The containers’ anthracite grey powder-coated finish offered a contemporary, neutral look that blended with the Deco District’s built environment. This allowed time for local artists to collaborate with DTP to create a series of graphic wraps to finish the units in Phase 2.
Following the successful install in Tulsa’s Downtown, the 25 new units have been transformed with bold vinyl wraps designed by Tulsa-area artists. Once installed, the ArtWraps program, led by Downtown Tulsa Partnership, called on local creatives to reflect the city’s culture, history and personality through original artwork to decorate and enhance the units.
The result is a vibrant collection which celebrates Tulsa’s Art Deco heritage, honours Indigenous traditions and reimagines the overlooked textures of daily life.
Downtown Tulsa’s Cassie Williams, spoke to metroSTOR about the impact this program is already having:
“We’ve received incredible feedback on the ArtWrap Trash Cans, from the artists who designed them to the entire downtown community. They bring vibrant art to the streets while serving the essential function of keeping downtown clean.”Cassie Williams
By turning practical infrastructure into canvases, the program tells stories of resilience, creativity and community identity in the very heart of the city.
For metroSTOR, it is inspiring to see our fully enclosed, pest-resistant trash enclosures serve as a tool for cleaner streets but also as a canvas for community expression. Tulsa has shown how cities can reduce litter, support public art and enhance pedestrian experience all at once, by combining durable urban infrastructure with local creativity.
Read more about the artists and check out their amazing work here.
