Containers

“Just because people throw it out, doesn't mean it's garbage.”

― Andy Warhol

Overview

Containers, the My Free Zoo term for garbage cans or rubbish bins, are an essential part of the zoo. If containers are not available, or are allowed to get too full, trash will begin to accumulate on paths. This state of affairs disgusts visitors and they will begin to leave ― reducing your revenue.

Standard containers are found in the Shop menu by clicking on the Buildings and Special Places tab, then selecting the Miscellaneous sub-tab. Restrooms are also found in this location.

Unique containers can sometimes be acquired by participating in campaigns. Once a campaign has ended the items are unavailable for purchase by any means.

Thought-bubbles may appear above visitors' heads if there are insufficient containers available, but more likely your first indication will be a pile of rubbish on the ground. These piles will have action-bubbles above them which can be clicked to remove the trash, but new piles will quickly appear if more container space is not made available ― either by emptying full containers or placing additional new containers. Trash piles will also generate on paths while logged out if there are not enough containers to accommodate visitor needs, creating a mess to be cleaned up upon logging back in.

Container capacity is not clearly stated anywhere in the game. Hovering the cursor over a container will give you a "filling level" percentage indicating how full it is. When a container nears full capacity it will have an action-bubble over it, allowing you to empty the can with one click.

Containers can be emptied at other times as well by clicking on the container itself. This option is only available when the container is a certain percentage full, which varies by the type of container. Trash is evenly distributed among all containers in the zoo, though different sizes of containers will fill at different rates.

While containers do not generate revenue, experience points (XP) are earned each time a container is emptied. The amount of XP depends on the quality of the container and how full it is. A Garbage Collector employee will automatically empty containers, provided the container is within 1 field of a path, and pick up any trash piles. The Depot building allows you to store all your containers in one convenient place.

Note that if a container is returned to inventory without first being emptied, any XP that would have been earned by emptying it will be lost.

There are no trading cards for containers, but this is not really a problem since all standard containers are inexpensive and cost Zoo Dollars (ZD).