Downtown Coupeville is a popular destination for residents and tourists alike.

To help ensure the area stays neat and tidy, town workers are busy placing new trash cans in high-pedestrian traffic areas throughout the town.

The $10,000 project doubles the number of garbage cans that the walking public can use to toss their refuse. The cans will be placed in downtown, near paths and other such areas as parking lots.

Mayor Nancy Conard said the current cans have worn out and need replacing.

Workers started this week placing 27 garbage cans and five concrete ashtrays for smokers to fling their cigarette butts. The new, redwood trash cans are domed to prevent birds from getting to the trash. The town is responsible for emptying the new trash cans.

In addition to the cans, the town is also placing dispensers which will give dog owners access to bags that will help them clean up after their pets. Conard said town regulations require folks to clean up after their dogs and the bags will help them out.

“We wanted to have something in place to help people comply,” Conard said.

The money for the trash cans has been on the books for three years. Conard said many of new cans will be on private property and the town needed owners’ permission first.

Council member Molly Hughes has been busy contacting local owners to get permission to place the new cans on their property and town workers started placing the cans Thursday.