Look. We’ve all been there. You’re walking past 1 Willow Lane, Evelyn is nowhere in sight, and that silver lid is just begging to be clicked. You do it. You find a Pink Cake. Or maybe just a Soggy Newspaper. But then you start wondering—is this the only one? How many garbage cans are there in Pelican Town anyway?
It’s not just a weird hobby. For some players, checking the trash is a legitimate early-game survival strategy. If you're playing Stardew Valley, knowing the exact layout of the town's waste management system can actually be the difference between having enough energy to mine ten more floors or passing out in the dirt.
The Magic Number: A Breakdown of the Cans
There are eight garbage cans in Pelican Town.
That’s the hard number. Eight. If you’re counting the little decorative bins or things inside houses, stop. Those don't count. We’re talking about the interactive, lootable bins located outside specific buildings. If you go on a daily "trash run," you’ll be hitting exactly eight spots.
Most people find the first few easily. 1 Willow Lane (Jodi’s house) and 2 Willow Lane (Emily and Haley’s house) are right there when you enter town from the farm. They’re basically a rite of passage. But then things get a bit more spread out. You've got the one tucked next to the Blacksmith, the one by the Saloon, and the one by the Museum.
✨ Don't miss: Warlock Pact of the Chain: Why Most Players Are Using Their Familiars All Wrong
Where They All Live
Let's get specific. You need to know exactly where to click so you aren't just standing in a bush like a weirdo while Lewis watches.
- Jodi’s House (1 Willow Lane): Right to the left of her front door. It’s usually reliable for basic food items.
- Emily and Haley’s House (2 Willow Lane): Just outside the front. Sometimes you’ll find cloth or wool here, which is a massive win early on.
- The Mayor’s Manor: To the right of Lewis’s house. Honestly? Lewis lives alone and is the Mayor. You’d think he’d have better trash, but it’s often just junk.
- The Stardrop Saloon: This is the gold mine. It's located right outside the entrance. Gus is a pro chef. He throws away "failed" dishes that are actually perfectly good Dish O' The Sea or Survival Burgers.
- 1 River Road (George and Evelyn’s House): Right outside the door. Evelyn is a sweetheart, and sometimes she "discards" cookies. Yes, Cookies.
- The Blacksmith: Clint’s shop has a can on the right side. This is where you find ores, coal, or even copper bars if you’re lucky.
- The Museum/Library: To the right of the entrance. Since Gunther doesn't really "live" there, it’s mostly geodes or artifacts.
- The JojaMart (or Movie Theater): To the left of the building. Even after you run Joja out of town and turn it into a theater, the trash can stays. It’s consistent.
The Mechanics of the Loot
It isn't just random. ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) built a pretty specific system for how this works. Every day, there is a 2% chance that a trash can will be "overflowing" with a specific rare item.
There's a progression system too. You won't find a Diamond in the trash on Spring 1. The game checks your progress. Once you’ve reached the bottom of the mines, the loot table for the cans actually upgrades. Suddenly, those trash cans you’ve been ignoring might start dropping Refined Quartz or Iron Ore.
The "Mega" loot is the Trash Can Hat. It’s a literal garbage can lid that flies off with a loud clink sound when you interact with a can. It’s rare. Like, 0.2% chance rare. But once it happens, you'll hear that sound and your character will be wearing the lid. It’s a badge of honor for the dedicated dumpster divers.
Don't Get Caught
There is a social cost to this. If any NPC (except Linus) sees you rummaging through a trash can, you lose 25 friendship points with them. They'll usually say something like "Ew..." or ask what you're doing.
The range is about seven tiles. If someone is walking by—looking at you, Marnie—and you click that lid, you're taking a hit to your reputation. The only exception is Linus. He doesn't judge. In fact, he has a whole cutscene about it. If you trigger his 5-heart event, you’ll learn a lot more about his perspective on "waste."
✨ Don't miss: How to Make an Iron Golem: The Truth About Minecraft's Most Loyal Protectors
Why the Saloon Can is Different
If you only check one can, make it the Stardrop Saloon. Because Gus sells a rotating menu, the trash can outside his shop has a high probability of containing the "Dish of the Day."
Imagine it's a Friday. You're low on health. You check the bin. Boom. Maki Roll. That's a huge boost for a player who hasn't even upgraded their farmhouse to have a kitchen yet. This is why speedrunners and min-maxers always include the Saloon in their daily pathing. It's free energy.
Seasonal and Special Drops
The loot changes with the calendar. During the Winter Star festival or near specific holidays, you might see slight shifts in what’s common. But generally, the cans follow the "Standard Loot Table."
- Common: Trash, Driftwood, Soggy Newspaper, Broken Glasses, Broken CD.
- Uncommon: Field Snack, Bread, Salmonberry, Blackberry.
- Rare: Iron Bar, Gold Ore, Jade, Diamond (Post-Mine completion).
The Soggy Newspaper is actually more useful than it looks. If you have a Recycling Machine, that paper turns into Cloth. Cloth sells for a lot, or you can use it to make your own clothes at Emily's. Turning literal trash into high-end tailoring materials is the ultimate Pelican Town power move.
Technical Nuance: The Luck Factor
Your Daily Luck (checked via the TV) matters. If the spirits are very happy, you have a much higher chance of hitting that "special" item drop in the trash. If they are annoyed, expect a lot of broken CDs.
Also, if you've found the Special Charm (from the Secret Note quest involving the Rabbit's Foot), your luck gets a permanent boost. This indirectly makes every garbage can in town more valuable for the rest of your playthrough.
Final Strategy for the Trash-Curious
Don't just run around clicking randomly. Efficiency is everything in Stardew. The best route starts at your farm, hits Jodi and Emily's houses, swings by the Mayor, drops down to the Saloon, and finishes at the Blacksmith/Museum area before heading to the woods or the beach.
📖 Related: Finding the Super Rod in Pokemon Red: Why Most Players Wait Way Too Long
Check the cans every day during your first Spring. Once you have a stable income from crops, you can dial it back, but never truly ignore them. That 1-in-500 chance for a Trash Can Hat is always lingering.
Actionable Insights for Your Next In-Game Day:
- Memorize the "LoS" (Line of Sight): Before clicking a can, do a quick visual sweep for NPCs. If someone is behind a tree but within 7 tiles, they will still "hear" you and deduct friendship points.
- Prioritize the Saloon and Blacksmith: These two cans have the highest ROI (Return on Investment) because they drop finished meals and processed ores.
- Check after 100 Floors in the Mine: If you just had a big breakthrough in the mines, go check the cans. The game's loot tables likely just upgraded for you.
- Keep a Recycling Machine handy: Never throw away the actual "trash" items you find. Transform the newspapers into cloth and the broken CDs into Refined Quartz to maximize the value of your scavenging.