‘Smart’ trash can responds to voice

“Open, trash can lid ...” Some home dwellers might jokingly make this simple command before manually opening a trash receptacle. But one company specializing in beauty, bath and kitchen tools is going the extra step of taking such commands more seriously.

A few years ago, California-based Simplehuman came out with a garbage can that could be automatically opened when it sensed movement in front of it. For CES 2017, the consumers electronics and technology show, Simplehuman is planning to unveil smart garbage cans that are capable of being opened by voice command. Thus, it hopes to make the often messy hassle of opening and closing waste containers practically obsolete.

Simplehuman isn’t the only company producing smart garbage cans. A Kickstarer campaign is well underway for Oklahoma-based Bruno, a receptacle that also features an integrated vacuum feature that delivers floor sweepings directly into the trash can.

There’s also GeniCan, deemed to be the world’s first intelligent device for your garbage can. The New York-based maker claims it scans one’s thrown-away items to automatically create a grocery list, matches coupons to products, and optionally delivers items to your doorstep. It works with both garbage and recycling, translating bar codes and spoken word into a customized grocery list.