Vintage finds in The Village:

Outdoor, underground garbage pail; also known as a Subterranean Receiver.

You would separate your ‘garbage’ (food waste etc) from your ‘rubbish’ (dry trash). Storing it underground kept it cooler, and kept the animals (and flies) from rummaging.

It wasn’t until 1950 that garbage bags were invented, making the underground receptacles no longer necessary.

Vestal Manufacturing in Sweetwater, TN is still in business!