It's called the BigBelly Solar Trash Can, and I'm simply amazed at the concept. The trash can is effective in big cities because it automatically compacts what’s inside to save space and limit the number of times it needs to be emptied. It is able to reduce the size of the trash inside by 80 percent, and when the trash is compacted, each can is capable of holding 150 gallons of waste. Not only that, but it's solar-powered and sends a text message to city hall when it’s full and ready for collection. This means fewer scheduled collection times, which reduces fuel use and air pollution from garbage trucks.
In August of last year, Philadelphia replaced 700 downtown trash cans with 500 BigBelly cans and 210 companion recycling units (attachments that allow for the collection of recyclables like paper and plastic bottles). With the new system, weekly collection trips have dropped from 17 to five, translating into a savings of 70 percent – or $13 million over the next 10 years.
How does the BigBelly do it, ask you? Well, the power to compress waste comes from a 12-volt battery that is charged daily using a solar panel. The cans contain wireless devices that allow them to communicate with waste collectors.
Multi-faceted, effective, efficient...what's not to love? Already college campuses like Arizona State University and Georgetown University use the BigBelly...I'm thinking a major overhaul of Queens College in the future!
Source:
http://earth911.com/news/2010/05/25/solar-powered-trash-cans-save-cities-millions/
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keep it green!