What’s Hiding in Backyards?

The underground garbage can was New England’s answer to these problems. Picture a sturdy metal container buried partway in the ground, with just its lid visible at the surface. Trash stayed hidden, smells stayed contained, and animals couldn’t get to it. For homeowners, it was simple: toss your trash into the can, close the lid, and forget about it until trash day.

The sanitation workers of the time had a system for these cans, too. They’d open the hatch, haul the container out of the ground, empty it, and put it back in place. It wasn’t the most high-tech setup, but it worked for underground garbage disposal.

Why Did They Disappear?

By the 1970s, underground garbage cans started to fade away. The main reason? Convenience. Curbside pickup became the new standard, and with it came lighter, more portable trash bins that were easier to move and empty.

There were also some practical downsides to the underground cans. Over time, they could fill with water or rust out completely, especially in New England’s harsh winters. Maintaining them wasn’t always easy, and many homeowners eventually had them sealed or removed altogether.

Still, for a while, they were a clever solution to a messy problem—and they fit right in with New England’s resourceful, no-nonsense attitude.

Rediscovering a Forgotten Relic

Finding one of these old cans today is like stumbling upon a time capsule. They’re often tucked away in backyards, forgotten under a layer of dirt and leaves, their lids still stamped with the name of the town or the manufacturer, like “Somerville” or “F.S. Jones.”

You’d be surprised how creative people get with these old garbage cans. Some turn them into planters or quirky yard decorations that make for great conversation starters. Others just leave them where they are, appreciating them as a cool little piece of history. It’s kind of funny to think that something as ordinary as a trash can could hold so many stories about how people used to tackle everyday problems.

A Glimpse into the Past

There’s something endearing about these old underground garbage cans. They’re practical, sure, but they also carry a sense of ingenuity from a time when people found clever ways to deal with everyday challenges. They’re a reminder of how much life has changed—not just in the way we handle trash, but in how we think about convenience and efficiency.

So, the next time you’re walking through an old New England neighborhood or poking around your backyard, keep an eye out. That rusty metal hatch might just be one of those underground garbage cans, a forgotten piece of history, waiting to tell its story.