City replaces 27 trash cans to increase cleanliness downtown
Trash cans are being replaced in downtown Salem this month as part of a larger effort to improve the cleanliness of city sidewalks.
The city began replacing its 27 downtown trash cans earlier this month, swapping out ones that were installed over 20 years ago and have since become worn. The project is a part of a larger plan to improve the downtown streetscape that was approved by the Urban Renewal Agency in 2019.
The new cans cost about $27,594, with another $9,770 allotted for installation, bringing the total cost to about $37,000. That money comes out of urban renewal funds, according to city spokeswoman Nicole Miller.
“This project comes at a crucial time as we strive to enhance the cleanliness of downtown, directly addressing the concerns raised by our businesses and visitors,” said Dana DeKlyen, Urban Development assistant director in a city press release.
The city has five to six more years left of streetscape improvement projects, Miller said. This year’s budget shows $4 million in urban renewal funds have been dedicated to the improvements.
City officials said the new black cans have larger openings to prevent trash from becoming visible on their exterior. Their flat surface will also be easier to clean and allow for art wraps in the future, such as those seen on utility boxes downtown.
The first round of installations began Jan. 12, with the second expected towards the end of the month. About a dozen have already been installed, according to Miller.
The release said there are no plans to reduce the number of trash cans the city maintains downtown, though the new cans will be redistributed throughout the downtown area for wider access to them.
Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] .
LOCAL NEWS DELIVERED TO YOU: Subscribe to Salem Reporter and get all the fact-based Salem news that matters to you. Fair, accurate, trusted – SUBSCRIBE
Hailey Cook joined Salem Reporter in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She works as a reporter and photojournalist, with a focus on business and entertainment, among other topics.
One comment
Comments are closed.
Garbage cans are the least of the problems for downtown Salem. The homelessness downtown is disgusting and its an embarrassment to our city. Liberal policies have created this mess. Governor’s Brown and Kotex along with City leaders created this mess with legalizing drugs and lord know what else. I am sure they have all pocketed money from federal funds. I am looking for to the Trump administrations auditing our great state.