Waste Solutions for Sacramento’s River District
The River District in Sacramento, California, has taken a major step toward cleaner streets with their litter and recycling containment programme. Installed earlier this year in partnership with metroSTOR and the City of Sacramento, the enclosures are already helping the district tackle street litter and improve the look and feel of public spaces.
The River District sits just north of downtown Sacramento and is home to a concentration of services, businesses and residential development. It also has one of the city’s largest unhoused populations, bringing significant pressures on public space management. Traditional street trash and recycling cans had proved vulnerable to misuse, open fires and contamination. Can-diving and windblown litter were major issues that undermined recycling efforts.
The project features units that are designed specifically for on-street use in complex neighborhoods. Built entirely from steel, the housings are engineered for real strength and resilience, providing reassurance in an environment where fire risk is a concern.
Each enclosure houses 35-gallon containers with foot-pedal-operated hoppers for hygienic, hands-free access. Secure and purpose-built, the enclosures are designed to reduce windblown litter, deter vermin and limit opportunities for misuse. Dual-aperture options support the separation of bottles, cans and general trash. The modified apertures on the recycling units were chosen to discourage can-diving while maintaining convenient public access.
Graphic wraps applied to the housings provide a strong visual identity and help enhance the overall appearance of the streetscape.
The project reflects Sacramento’s commitment to community pride and sustainability, providing infrastructure that supports cleaner, safer streets.
