Trash can be roughly divided into two groups: cigarettes and everything else. Of course, there are far more specific subdivisions to be made but for our purposes as writers and yours as a business owner we’ll stick to these ones.

Cigarettes can be a particularly nasty problem for the businessman or woman because smokers tend to congregate and, if they have nowhere to put their (cigarette) butts, these also congregate – on the ground. You could chase smokers away from your front area with a broom, but this is hardly good for business, and besides you may have other things to do. Far easier on everyone involved is an ashtray.

If you want to upscale it, get a smokers’ post. While you will need a standard trash can as well, as it is too small to take anything but cigarettes, this gem is a very classy way for smokers to dispose of their refuse. It’s long, elegant, and pleasing to the eye. What’s more, it’s safe, as fire is a very real risk when it comes to ashtrays.

Fire, the problem associated with all kinds of smoke, is dealt with by a smokers’ post in two ways. For one, falling cigarettes are denied oxygen by the long neck, which snuffs them out if their owner was careless. For two, the hole is far too small to put anything but cigarettes, so even if one miraculously managed to stay lit, it would find nothing to fuel its fire.

For a more practical option, go for a wall-mounted urn. These are small boxes, about the size of two laptops, with nothing on them but a cartoon cigarette to denote their purpose and a hole to put this purpose to use. They’re not pretty, but they’re cheap nad they get the job done.

The first two mentioned here are only for cigarettes; if you buy one of these it is necessary to buy a trashcan as well, as if you only buy one you’ll still be stuck with the problem of the refuse meant for the other. To save some money and economise your space, invest in a combined ashtray and trashcan. You’ll keep your accountant happy and keep your front door area uncluttered. Win-win.