Solar powered trash compactors are becoming popular, especially in major cities. The compactor, called a BigBelly, is made by the BigBelly Solar company based in Needham, Massachusetts. Major cities, varying between Boston, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Vienna, are using BigBelly trash compactors.
The compactors can hold approximately 200 gallons of trash, which helps major cities reduce trash collection. The units themselves cost about $3,100. Philadelphia is the city which has taken to using the BigBelly is the largest numbers. Recently, Philadelphia installed 500 of the units in major downtown areas.
Prior to Philadelphia’s installments, Boston had the most BigBelly units at 160. In Philadelphia, the use of the units has reduced trash collection by 75 percent. It has led to a reduction, therefore, of emissions from trash collection. The trash compactors will save the city of Philadelphia $875,000 a year.
In addition, the project has led to less workers being necessary for street trash collection. The excess workers are not being used to collect recycling from local neighborhoods. BigBelly units include recycling compartments frequently as well, making recycling easier for pedestrians.
The BigBelly Solar company is hoping to expand the number of compactors in use around the globe. The reduction in trash collection and the cost savings will most likely make the units welcome in many cities in the near future.
