Check out these new high-tech trash cans that were just installed in Harlem

In today's trash news: The New York City Department of Sanitation just installed a number of new "Empire Bins" in Harlem, high-tech on-street containers that are meant to be shared by area residents but can only be opened with a special key card by building staff or sanitation workers, according to Gothamist.

"The new models are also designed to be emptied by a new fleet of garbage trucks that can lift containers from the side rather than the rear," reports the outlet. "Officials said those trucks will begin to service city streets by June."

Although a clear attempt by city officials to combat the never-ending rat sightings that have come to define life in the city, it turns out that not all New Yorkers are happy about the new trash cans. 

"These will be used as an excuse to further push out street parking," a user pointed out on X. "If these are any form of plastic, rats will eat through it quickly. A lot of street trash will cause these containers to be filled before the owners get to put their own."

Stated worries seem to also involve the way the garbage disposals will be treated by the general public.

"Just wait until they are used as homeless shelters and bathrooms," someone wrote on X matter-of-factly.

Some others, though, have taken to social media to praise the effort.

"The system right now is leaving the bags on the sidewalk," a user commented on X. "Nothing can be worse than status quo."

Those sentiments are echoed by others. "Beats all the black trash bags stacked up," yet another user wrote. 

For what it's worth, at the moment, these new high-tech bins look pretty neat to us. We also give city officials a big A for effort.