JUN 05

Solar-powered trash compactors called BigBellys are being installed along Philadelphia's sidewalks. The new bins are powered completely by the sun and hold eight times as much waste as a typical city trash can.

The city is installing 500 of the compactors by July and 210 of them will include separate recycling bins. The greatest thing about these compactors is the fact that they will save the city $12.9 million over 10 years since they only need to be emptied five times a week versus 19 times for the regular trash cans, slashing fuel and staff costs. This also offers the benefit of less CO2 emissions from fewer garbage pick-ups.

The bins include sensors that detect when they're full and wireless devices that alert the city's Streets Department that it's time for pick up. Because trash is enclosed in the bin once it's discarded, they will cut down on city litter that would accumulate from trash falling out of the old wire bins.

Philadelphia isn't the only area to benefit from their use.  Besides the units installed at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania, trash compactors have also been installed in Chicago's Millenium Park and Boston's Fenway Park.

via Inhabitat

Comments (15)

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written by Keith, June 05, 2009

Drexel and Penn are both in Philly...

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Victoria, BC
written by Richard, June 06, 2009

Victoria, BC, Canada has at least one as well, down by the quay. It was a real oddity for me when I first saw it.

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jordan shoes
written by jordan shoes, June 06, 2009

Blogs are good for every one where we get lots of information for any topics nice job keep it up !!!

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written by bill, June 06, 2009

These must have an awfully large battery to be able to compact trash.

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Vandalism
written by Jacob, June 06, 2009

What about homeless people who derive an income from collecting bottles and cans, or people who would smash the tops of the solar panels for fun?

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Homeless people
written by David, June 06, 2009

I thought of this too, and of course there are ways to separate cans and bottles by having for example an extra bin.. In my hometown many people often just leave the recyclables on the ground so the ones collecting don't have to dig through the garbage, but I don't really think this is a preferred solution for high populated areas. Anyhow I suppose that recycling would drop noticeably if these weren't collected..

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Boston
written by Alex, June 06, 2009

These have been all over Boston and a few places in Cambridge for several years now, and the cities keep adding more of them. They seem to work great, and they're really robust - it would take some serious effort to damage them. If I recall correctly, it's just a car battery that runs the compactor.

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Wall-E ?
written by Nathan, June 06, 2009

I just want to know if these solar powered trash compactors will fall in love with EVA?

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written by John Rowell, June 07, 2009

@bill: No need for a large battery, they probably just have very low gearing.

This is very innovative, I like it!

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robotic trash compressors!
written by hyperspaced, June 09, 2009

We have some WEIRD and fugly trash compressors in Greece as well.

http://www.avgi.gr/images/photoarchive/2009/5/8/16 RompotoKados_high.jpg

When you come close, the door opens up, and a voice tells you to put in the garbage bag. Everything is compressed to the top. To empty out the garbage the whole thing bends and trash is released to the truck.
They look like the leg of a transformer with a palm tree on top.
I know it's stupid.

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written by bdotjones, June 09, 2009

they need to put these around temple university as well

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Looks Good.
written by EcoRealty, June 10, 2009

This sounds like a great plan! Vancouver Canada should adopt a program like this too. Saving money is always good. I'm not sure how using all that silicon is eco friendly though but hey you have to try. Right?

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At the beach
written by Gloria, June 19, 2009

I imagine these would be useful at the beach. When i go to the beach trash cans are often full and trash is falling out. This would keep the beaches much cleaner and keep the trash from ending up in the ocean.

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written by Fred, July 01, 2009

definately helpful in making more space for trash.

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bose headphones
written by bose headphones, August 24, 2009

People to enjoy music, a need for a high-quality sound equipment to show the moving melody to enhance the music quality of life,It is the use of bose headphones.Now bose headphones for sale in hot,Let's go to buy bose headphones .

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