Battle lines are being drawn between Back Bay historic conservationists and city officials over new solar powered trash compactors.

The question is, how do you take a high-tech solar-powered device and disguise it to be, as the manufacturer describes it, "something Ben Franklin would want to throw his trash into"? (Old pamphlets and broken kites, I'm guessing.)

If they can't be made to fit in, off they'll go to Hyde Park; Jamaica Plain; and South Boston and the Back Bay will just have to dispose of its trash the old fashioned way.

Trash receptacles are also in the news in New York, where they're being used to thwart terrorism.