Keith's Corner

Waste Management to Offer New Solar Powered Trash Compactor

Waste Management Inc. (“WM”) has announced that it has entered into an agreement with BigBelly Solar under which Waste Management will provide WM Solar Powered Trash Compactors to its customers, including municipalities and high-traffic facilities. Noting that busy intersections, public parks, city streets, sporting events and other public spaces can be magnets for trash and that ordinary trash barrels can easily overflow and become eyesores, WM suggests that solar powered trash compactor can provide a number of solutions, by reducing waste collection frequency, lowering costs for customers and ensuring a greener, cleaner environment. WM adds that the compactors also include receptacles for collecting plastic bottles, newspapers, glass and other recyclables.
WM says that its Solar Powered Trash Compactors are completely self-powered, using built-in solar panels to compact trash. About the same size as a standard 35-gallon trash barrel, each compactor provides five times the capacity of a traditional trash receptacle. When the unit reaches capacity, sensors trigger an internal compactor which flattens the contents, converting 180 gallons of waste into easy-to-collect bags. A wireless system then signals that the unit is ready to be picked up.
A great idea but let’s hope they are durable enough for the abuse they will undoubtedly undergo.

Last updated Jun 24, 2009