diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_service.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_service.py
index c29ffb627856..572034033752 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_service.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_service.py
@@ -1036,6 +1036,26 @@ async def is_project_hidden(app: web.Application, project_id: ProjectID) -> bool
     return await db.is_hidden(project_id)
 
 
+async def set_project_hidden_flag(
+    app: web.Application,
+    *,
+    product_name: ProductName,
+    user_id: UserID,
+    project_id: ProjectID,
+    hidden: bool,
+) -> None:
+    await check_user_project_permission(
+        app,
+        project_id=project_id,
+        user_id=user_id,
+        product_name=product_name,
+        permission="write",
+    )
+
+    projects_repo: ProjectDBAPI = app[APP_PROJECT_DBAPI]
+    await projects_repo.set_hidden_flag(project_id, hidden=hidden)
+
+
 async def patch_project_node(
     app: web.Application,
     *,
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_rest.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_rest.py
index 045593f62185..e3d0503ac3a1 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_rest.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_rest.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import asyncio
 import logging
 
 from aiohttp import web
@@ -50,10 +49,7 @@ async def empty_trash(request: web.Request):
     user_id = get_user_id(request)
     product_name = products_web.get_product_name(request)
 
-    is_fired = asyncio.Event()
-
     async def _empty_trash():
-        is_fired.set()
         await _service.safe_empty_trash(
             request.app, product_name=product_name, user_id=user_id
         )
@@ -64,10 +60,7 @@ async def _empty_trash():
         fire_and_forget_tasks_collection=request.app[APP_FIRE_AND_FORGET_TASKS_KEY],
     )
 
-    # NOTE: Ensures `fire_and_forget_task` is triggered; otherwise,
-    # when the front-end requests the trash item list,
-    # it may still display items, misleading the user into
-    # thinking the `empty trash` operation failed.
-    await is_fired.wait()
+    # ensure trashed entities are hidden before returning response
+    await _service.hide_trashed(request.app, product_name=product_name, user_id=user_id)
 
     return web.json_response(status=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT)
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_service.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_service.py
index 8f7dd70d0beb..bac33f23ad0b 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_service.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/trash/_service.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 from ..folders import folders_trash_service
 from ..products import products_service
-from ..projects import projects_trash_service
+from ..projects import projects_service, projects_trash_service
 from .settings import get_plugin_settings
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ async def _empty_explicitly_trashed_projects(
     with log_context(
         _logger,
         logging.DEBUG,
-        "Deleting %s explicitly trashed projects",
+        "Deleting %s explicitly trashed projects: %s",
         len(trashed_projects_ids),
+        trashed_projects_ids,
     ):
         for project_id in trashed_projects_ids:
             try:
@@ -57,7 +58,6 @@ async def _empty_explicitly_trashed_projects(
                             "product_name": product_name,
                             "user_id": user_id,
                         },
-                        tip=_TIP,
                     )
                 )
 
@@ -72,8 +72,9 @@ async def _empty_explicitly_trashed_folders_and_content(
     with log_context(
         _logger,
         logging.DEBUG,
-        "Deleting %s trashed folders (and all its content)",
+        "Deleting %s trashed folders (and all its content): %s",
         len(trashed_folders_ids),
+        trashed_folders_ids,
     ):
         for folder_id in trashed_folders_ids:
             try:
@@ -99,6 +100,50 @@ async def _empty_explicitly_trashed_folders_and_content(
                 )
 
 
+async def _hide_trashed_projects(
+    app: web.Application, product_name: ProductName, user_id: UserID
+):
+    trashed_projects_ids = (
+        await projects_trash_service.list_explicitly_trashed_projects(
+            app=app, product_name=product_name, user_id=user_id
+        )
+    )
+    with log_context(
+        _logger,
+        logging.DEBUG,
+        "Hiding %s explicitly trashed projects",
+        len(trashed_projects_ids),
+    ):
+        for project_id in trashed_projects_ids:
+            try:
+                await projects_service.set_project_hidden_flag(
+                    app,
+                    product_name=product_name,
+                    user_id=user_id,
+                    project_id=project_id,
+                    hidden=True,
+                )
+            except Exception as exc:  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-caught
+                _logger.warning(
+                    **create_troubleshotting_log_kwargs(
+                        "Error hiding a trashed project while emptying trash.",
+                        error=exc,
+                        error_context={
+                            "project_id": project_id,
+                            "product_name": product_name,
+                            "user_id": user_id,
+                        },
+                        tip=_TIP,
+                    )
+                )
+
+
+async def hide_trashed(
+    app: web.Application, *, product_name: ProductName, user_id: UserID
+):
+    await _hide_trashed_projects(app, product_name, user_id)
+
+
 async def safe_empty_trash(
     app: web.Application, *, product_name: ProductName, user_id: UserID
 ):