Have you felt the buzz yet? Something new and interesting is gracing the streets and people have been talking. No, it's not a hot new bar or restaurant (although, there are plenty). It's a garbage bin. Yes, a garbage bin. Welcome to Toronto, where urban infrastructure and street furniture is as hot a topic as any celebrity chef or club event.

Nearly two years ago, Astral Media Outdoor beat out a number of other companies for the right to provide Toronto with a whole new set of "street furniture". Between now and 2027 (it's not as far as you think), the company will be rolling out 5,000 transit shelters, 1,000 bicycle racks, 2,500 newspaper boxes, and a new collection of public benches. The company is also set to roll out 12,500 trash bins to replace the existing ones. Over the last few weeks, the new garbage bins have started to appear on Toronto's streets, and naturally we've taken notice.

Normally, garbage bins are part of the urban milieu; we don't pay any more attention to them than we would a pigeon, a streetlamp, or a traffic light (actually, that last thing you probably should pay attention to). But these new bins have caught our eye. To tell you the truth, they're pretty damn hard to miss. Initially, the attraction isn't based on functionality, but aesthetics. The new bins are bulky, curvy, and more than a little intrusive. I hate having my personal bubble penetrated as much as the next uptight Torontonian, but the bins' invasiveness could actually be a good thing. It's hard to justify throwing your garbage on the ground when the bin isn't only accessible; it practically punches you in the gut.

I have another quibble about the new design, and admittedly it's a bit petty. They're grey. Enough with the grey! Yes, I admit, they'd an even bigger eyesore if they didn't blend in with their environment, but did it have to be grey? Toronto has to be the greyest city in the world. We should just hold a grey pride parade and get it over with.

But for all my pedantic objections, I must admit that Astral Media have nailed the functionality aspect. You wouldn't think that the garbage bin concept is a tricky one to figure out, but these new bins simplify the process even further. Separate containers for litter and recycling are clearly delineated and a handy cigarette receptacle on the back of the bin should help cut down on the number of butts we see peppering the streets daily (and especially after the snow melts). Even better still, a foot lever at the bottom of the can opens the bin so you can avoid disgusting garbage grime all over your hands and arms. This is a big plus.

Then again, the fact that people are noticing the bins is a drawback in and of itself. Maybe we're just so used to our engrained version of Toronto that any little change is enough to send us into shock. Or maybe the City of Toronto has spent millions upon millions of dollars on street furniture that uglifies its own environment. Let's hope it's the former, because there's still plenty more to come.