San Francisco’s public garbage cans have long outlived their lifespan (寿命) and need to be replaced. However, the current design is not enough for the city’s large population and the increasing number of tourists. The garbage cans also get messed up by the homeless. To address the issues, in 2018, San Francisco Public Works officials set out in search of a perfect garbage can. This proved harder than they had thought.
The officials had a few criteria in mind. The ideal garbage can had to be durable (耐用的) and easy to empty. It would also have a built-in sensor (传感器) to send warnings when full, cost between $2,000 to $3,000 a piece, and, most importantly, look good! After an extensive search failed to find a suitable off-the-shelf replacement, the committee asked local firms to design customized garbage cans.
The four-year exploration ended on July 18, 2022, with three selections. They include the “Slim Silhouette” “Salt & Pepper” and “Soft Square”. Since none of them meet all the required criteria, the officials have turned to the city’s residents for help.
The customized cans and three new off-the-shelf options have been placed across San Francisco for a 60-day trial. Residents can scan the QR codes on the cans and provide opinions on their use experience. A location map of each option is included at the end of the survey. The most popular garbage can will be publicized after the trial ends in mid-September.
The time spent on the project and the cost of the three customized garbage cans — which ranged between $11,000 to $20,900 a piece — have drawn criticism from the city’s retired official Matt Haney.
“The idea that San Francisco is so unique that we need a separate garbage can from any one used in any city around the world is laughable,” Haney said. “It’s something that reflects a broader and deeper brokenness of city government and the services it provides.”
However, Beth Rubenstein, director of policy and communications at San Francisco Public Works, believes their research will benefit cities across the US.
【小题1】What is paragraph 1 mainly about?| A．The local tourism industry. | B．The origin of garbage cans. |
| C．The problems faced by the city. | D．The city’s poor environment. |
| A．The function. | B．The appearance. | C．The material. | D．The cost. |
| A．Take good care of the new garbage cans. | B．Make improvements to the new garbage cans. |
| C．Check new criteria for the new garbage cans. | D．Give their opinions on the new garbage cans. |
| A．Rewarding. | B．Meaningless. | C．Misleading.. | D．Efficient. |
