Ever seen a metal lined hole in the ground 20″ in diameter? That is a holder for a 31 gallon metal trash can. Homes built around the 1950’s tended to have these can holders built into the ground. Less unsightly and more racoon resistant, the cans put in these bin would have to be manually lifted out and emptied. Some of these can holders had two, foot-operated levers, one allowed you to throw in rubbish and the other to tank the whole can out.
This model is a Chief Trash Can Holder, but other types were made as well.