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99% Invisible · March 31, 2026 · 28m

Service Request #3: Why Is There So Much Litter in San Francisco?

99% Invisible presents a service request episode that investigates why it took nearly a decade to redesign San Francisco's public trash cans and why more bins haven't solved the city's litter problem. Host Roman Mars digs into the surprising bureaucratic, design, and behavioral reasons behind the delays and ineffectiveness. The story reveals how something as mundane as a trash can exemplifies the challenges of urban infrastructure.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

A Decade to Redesign a Trash Can
San Francisco spent nearly ten years redesigning its public trash cans.
More Bins, Same Litter
Adding more trash cans hasn't made San Francisco's streets cleaner.
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