The city's Department of Streets and Sanitation plans to remove its 400 solar trash compactors, most of which are downtown, because they pose a security risk for the upcoming two-day NATO summit beginning May 20. Unlike the more traditional city wire trash cans, the Solar trash compactors are lidded, making it difficult for local and national security officers to discern what is inside.

It is not known how long the expensive, environmentally friendly trash cans will be pulled from the city. A Streets and Sanitation spokesman would not specify to the Tribune how many of the cans have been replaced and when they might return.