New York City Is Turning Smart Garbage Bins Into Free Wi-Fi Hotspots

Garbage cans may no longer be just for junk. Bigbelly, a Massachusetts-based waste management company, is hoping to turn its trash and recycling bins into wireless hotspots throughout New York City.

The project began in downtown Manhattan, where more than 170 of Bigbelly’s solar powered “smart” bins have already been installed. Each container is equipped with a chip that detects when the bin is full or too smelly, allowing trash collectors to make a pick-up where they’re needed most. But the city thought the already-high-tech bin could still use an upgrade.