What Does the 🗑️ (Trash Can) Emoji Mean?

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All the ways to use the wastebasket emoji over text and online

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: February 6, 2024 Fact Checked

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🗑️ (Trash Can) Emoji Meaning

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Uses

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Emoji Pairings

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🗑️ Emoji Copy & Paste

While the 🗑️ (trash can or wastebasket) emoji often represents the basket made for disposing of paper and garbage, you might be surprised to learn how versatile it can be in texting and social media. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about this creative emoji, including its meaning and all the different ways to use it. We’ve also included a list of other emojis you can pair with it for an even more fun and interesting conversation.

Things You Should Know

The 🗑️ (trash can) emoji refers to literal or figurative trash.
Use 🗑️ to tell someone you’re about to throw away garbage, or to express negative feelings about something.
Alternatively, send 🗑️ with the slang expression “dumpster fire” to describe a disastrous situation.

Section 1 of 4:

What does the 🗑️ emoji mean?

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The 🗑️ emoji represents a basket for disposing of trash. Also known as the wastepaper basket emoji, 🗑️ symbolizes a trash container. Use it to talk about literal or figurative garbage, whether it’s old receipts you have piling up in your purse or a situation that went poorly.^{[1]
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- The trashcan emoji is also used to discuss basketball, especially since it looks like a basketball net.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Use the 🗑️ Emoji

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Use the 🗑️ emoji to refer to actual trash or rubbish. Do you have a bunch of garbage you need to throw away? Use 🗑️ to announce that you’re getting rid of it. If you’re cleaning your house or apartment, this emoji is another way of saying: it’s out with the old and in with the new!^{[2]
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- “It’s time for spring cleaning 🗑️✨🧹🧤🫧🧽”
- “Just deleted 3,201 cringe photos of myself from middle school 🗑️”
- “Does anyone else have old homework sitting in their parent’s house? 🗑️”
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Express negative feelings with the 🗑️ emoji. If you’re having a rough day, use 🗑️ to express your feelings.^{[3]
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Research source} A lot of people can probably relate to your experience, so it’s a great way to connect with others and show that you don’t take yourself too seriously.
- “Monday mood: 🗑️🗑️🗑️”
- “Feeling like trash today 🗑️”
- “My entire week has been 🗑️”
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Some people use 🗑️ emoji to talk about something they dislike. Sometimes, people use the trashcan emoji as a clever way to say that a person, object, or idea is terrible.
- “Unpopular opinion: The Popeyes chicken sandwich is 🗑️”
- “His ex-girlfriend was trash 🗑️ She never tipped or said thank you 🚩🚩🚩”
- “The new collection is 🗑️ I can’t imagine anyone wearing those pieces in public…”
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Pair 🗑️ with the 🔥 (fire) emoji to represent a “dumpster fire.” This slang expression refers to a disastrous situation, especially in the world of sports.^{[4]
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Research source} Use this emoji combination to describe anything that’s unmanageable or out of control.
- “2020-2023 was an absolute 🗑️🔥”
- “It’s official…This season is a total 🗑️🔥⚾”
- “His speech gradually turned into a 🗑️🔥 Everyone was literally dying 💀🫣”
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Encourage people to be eco-friendly with the 🗑️ emoji. Passionate about the planet? Use 🗑️ to talk about the harmful effects of littering and the toxic chemicals found in plastics.^{[5]
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Research source} By sharing this information, you might inspire people to go green and reduce their environmental footprint as much as possible!
- “PSA: Plastic straws pollute the planet 🗑️🥤❌ Just drink from the rim 🥛”
- “Be kind to Mother Earth 🌎 Don’t litter 🙅‍♀️🗑️ and don’t forget to recycle ♻️💚”
- “Just a reminder to avoid single-use plastics 🗑️🚯 and use a tote when shopping 👜🔄”
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Send 🗑️ with basketball-related emojis to discuss the game. A lot of people use the 🗑️ emoji to talk about basketball because it resembles a basketball net. Pair it with the basketball emoji as well as different colored heart emojis to represent your favorite team, or throw in the fire emoji to discuss a crazy play.^{[6]
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- “Let’s go Lakers 🗑️🏀💜💛”
- “Lebron is the GOAT 🐐🏀🗑️🔥⛹🏿‍♂️”
- “My resolution is to land a half-court shot 🏀🗑️ Wish me luck 🤞🍀”

Section 3 of 4:

🗑️ Emoji Pairings

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Combine 🗑️ with other fun emojis to create a unique message. Looking for a way to spice up your conversation? Pair 🗑️ with different emojis to add more personality to your message. If you’re not sure what to send, here are a few examples to help you get started:
- 🗑️♻️🏞️💚🌱 = Happy Earth Day
- 🗑️🚿🧼🧴🧽✨ = Spring cleaning
- 🗑️💿🎵🎸= Horrible taste in music
- 🗑️👩‍💼💺🖥️⌨️🖱️ = Terrible work day
- 🗑️📺 = Not a fan of a specific TV show