“We have become big fans of BigBelly and are supportive of the continued deployment of BigBelly compactors into the neighborhoods surrounding Fenway Park.”
The Boston Red Sox
Boston’s historic Fenway Park – the oldest ballpark in the league – hasn’t changed much over the years. The Green Monster still looms over left field, surpassed slightly in height by the neon Citgo sign that has illuminated Boston’s skyline since 1940. But Fenway Park has changed in some very noticeable ways. Its rafters now team with members of Red Sox Nation, hoping to catch a glimpse of World Series greatness; the park pulsates with an energy it’s never seen before. But those sold-out crowds generate a significant amount oftrash, which has been making its way into the substantial residential neighborhood surrounding Fenway Park.
Good Neighbor
Neighborhood residents were justifiably concerned. Despite the City of Boston’s valiant efforts to keep pace with the trash, receptacles overflowed with unsightly and unhealthy garbage. Residents, public works officials and Red Sox management met and agreed that simply putting out more trash barrels would increase labor, truck and fuel costs associated with added collections trips. The City offered a solution: a public-private partnership to deploy more of Mayor Menino’s weapon of choice in the battle to keep public spaces throughout the Boston clean and litter-free – BigBelly® Solar Compactors.
New Fans
The same size as traditional waste barrels, BigBelly holds five or six times the amount of trash by compacting it on-site. Self-powered by solar energy and requiring no wiring, the super-efficient BigBelly can be deployed virtually anywhere – even in locations with no direct sunlight. The City of Boston has been steadily deploying BigBelly compactors for the last two years with the ultimate goal of utilizing them throughout the city. Fans at opening day at Fenway this year were greeted by their World Champion Red Sox and by a team of BigBelly
Solar Compactors ready to make sure the neighborhood around Fenway Park remain clean and litter-free. BigBelly was a home run, celebrated by both the Red Sox and the neighborhood residents.
Team Effort
“We have become big fans of BigBelly and are supportive of the continued deployment of BigBelly compactors into the neighborhoods surrounding Fenway Park,” said Jonathan Gilula, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the Red Sox. “In addition to the dramatic increase in capacity provided by the units, the enclosed design keeps litter in the receptacles – not overflowing onto the streets. This is a great example of business, area residents, and the City working in concert and in everyone’s best interests.”
To download or print a PDF flyer, click here.
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Riverside Outlook: Solar power plays a role in reducing waste
Riverside, CA – The sun is shining on the Emerald City as Riverside rolls out solar powered trash containers. Thanks to an American Recovery & Reinvestment grant from the Department of Energy, the City is installing approximately 25 trash/recycling containers to replace current trash receptacles The trash compactor units, completely powered by the sun, simply squeeze the trash inside the bin which saves space and reduces trash collection trips to just once a week. This saves the City an average of 1,665 gallons of fuel each year and about 575 labor hours that can be diverted to other programs.
The containers compact up to 200 gallons of trash into just 40-60 pounds. And, when there is no sun, the units have a battery reserve designed to last two to three weeks without charging.
Siobhan Foster, Riverside’s Public Works Director, speaks to the unit’s energy efficiency, “One unit uses just five watt hours of solar energy per day. Driving a garbage truck for just one mile uses the equivalent energy of operating one of these containers for eight years!”
The 540-pound container does not require any more space than a regular trash can and neatly fits into Riverside’s Green Action Plan. By using a free renewable resource, the City is taking another step to improving air quality and encouraging residents to join in the recycling efforts. Plus, the containers are safe, secure and easy-to-use.
The first containers are scheduled to be installed in the Riverwalk area in early May with other locations throughout the City following soon after.
Bill del Vecchio, Recycling Director, Georgetown University:
“The results have been nothing short of incredible, with waste collection being reduced from seven times per week to two.”
Georgetown University
Even while emptying their 110 trash cans 7 times a week, Georgetown University was facing real problems with waste overflow, rodents, and litter on campus. The solution: compacting trash on-site using BigBelly Solar Compactors at 60 of their most troublesome locations. The results from the switch have been amazing: by reducing collection frequency to just twice per week, the University gained 1,560 man-hours per year to reallocate to more critical tasks, eliminated 832 miles annually of driving to empty trash cans, and saved 1,307 pounds of CO2 from being emitted each year. The network of BigBelly solar compactors, equipped with wireless monitoring technology, make Georgetown University a leader in the adoption of green technology. They didn’t stop there, however, implementing a strategic recycling program utilizing the BigBelly system’s attached recycling kiosks. The additional units provided a combined 2000 gallon on-the-street repository for cans, paper, and plastic waste – marking a huge effort to divert resources from going to landfills.
“The results have been nothing short of incredible, with waste collection being reduced from seven times per week to two.” – Bill del Vecchio, Recycling Director, Georgetown University
To learn more, and download or print a PDF flyer, click here.
Arizona State University
In the fall of 2006, Pepsi donated six BigBelly solar compactors to the university, sporting ASU’s red and orange colors and large recycling logos on their sides. Prior to switching to the BigBelly compactors, ASU crews were emptying the trash every day. Today, the compactors are emptied only every three or four days. That’s great news for institutions hoping to purchase BigBelly compactors without outside funding, as the machines pay for themselves over time in reduced labor and fuel costs. Following this initial success, ASU purchased an additional 10 BigBelly units in June 2008.
“The machines are working great for the university. We only have to empty them intermittently, and there’s no maintenance… I’m a believer now.” – Ted Woods, Arizona State University
To learn more, and download or print a PDF flyer, click here.
Marie Torniali, Exec. Dir., Steinway Street Improvement, NYC:
“The main thing for a Business Improvement District is you have to make it look neater. New benches and planters are nice, but you have to get rid of the litter. The BigBelly has been terrific for our beautification efforts: you can see all the trash with the other cans, which is quite unsightly; but the BigBelly creates a much nicer look. We’re very pleased, especially with the visual improvement the BigBelly units have made in the BID – there’s less litter, and they look beautiful.”
Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston, MA:
“The solar trash receptacles have to go citywide. It will give us a more productive work force because you don’t have to pick them up every day.”
Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, PA:
“This technology will save taxpayers money, introduce sidewalk recycling and keep our streets clean. This is one more important step towards achieving our sustainability goals.”
The City of Boston
In May 2008, the City of Boston took delivery of another 44 BigBelly Solar Compactors, incrementing the total now at work throughout the City to be more than 150 units.
“The solar trash receptacles have to go citywide. It will give us a more productive work force because you don’t have to pick them up everyday.” - Mayor Thomas Menino
To learn more, and download or print a PDF flyer, click here.
