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Macomb, IL – A new trash collection option for Macomb’s downtown will increase available capacity by more than five times.

In partnership with the city, Waste Management has added six new solar-powered trash compactors to the downtown area. The machines are located mid-block on the east and west sides of the square and one on each corner.

The first machine was put in place in August near The Forum. A seventh machine will be added to the bus transfer facilty, which is currently in the planning stages. The machines are solar powered and are about the same size as a 35-gallon trash barrel.

“There are visual indicators (for fullness) and it e-mails us on a daily basis,” said Dave Schaub of Waste Management. “It also benefits the environment because it’s powered by the sun and 10,000 pounds of carbon emissions are reduced just by these cans (in Macomb).”

Macomb Public Works Director Walter Burnett said the new compactors help address some refuse issues the city was having.

“Because we have severely limited space and facilities for storing our trash, we were looking for a solution that would be both cost effective and aesthetically pleasing,” Burnett said. “We are confident we have found that solution in these solar powered compactors.”

The containers have solar panels on the top and a drop-down drawer that opens on the front to put garbage in.

When the trash can reaches its capacity a sensor triggers the compactor to flatten the contents. Once the container is full the machine e-mails Waste Management to schedule a collection.

Burnett said some of the traditional trash collection cans will still remain in the downtown area.

Macomb Mayor Mick Wisslead called the new containers “the right thing” and said they will also have the downtown logo on the outside.

See the Article

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Bronx, NY - Amalgamated Bank, with its long-standing commitment of servicing working people, has opened a new branch at the White Plains Road Business Improvement District.
The full service retail bank opened at 2178 White Plains Road by honoring three long time leaders in the Pelham Parkway community.

The branch manager, Lynn Diagostino, who was born and raised in the Bronx, spoke about managing a branch in a community that she cares about.

CEO Derrick Cephas said, “This is a diverse and thriving area, which will continue to grow for many years to come. Our bank will help foster that growth by being an active partner in community endeavors and by providing a full range of banking services and financial resources to our neighbors.”

As part of that commitment to the community, White Plains Road Business Improvement District executive director Larry Prospect said that the bank agreed to help the B.I.D. create a newsletter, and has hired staff from the community. At first, Prospect said that he was skeptical about another bank on the street, but so far, Amalgamated has won him over.

“They have been terrific so far,” Prospect said. “They are putting together a professional looking newsletter for us. They have agreed to supply the candy that our Santa Claus will hand out at Christmas as he goes up and down the street. In previous years candy has cost us a lot of money at Christmas time.”

In addition, Prospect said was the bank is the first prospective tenant that came to the meet with B.I.D. representatives before talking with anyone else first, and has agreed to take out some advertisements on the sides of the B.I.D.’s BigBelly solar trash compactors at White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway South.

Amalgamated Bank, was established by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in 1923.

See the Article

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Albany, NY - Have you seen the new additions to the Lark Street neighborhood? In November thirteen BigBelly Solar Compactors and Recycling units were installed throughout the area. An Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the United States Department of Energy provided funding for 93 BigBelly Solar litter baskets and 20 recycling units to be installed throughout Albany. Out of these 93 units, 13 BigBelly Solar Compactors and Recycling units were placed in the Lark Street Business Improvement District.

These new additions to the neighborhood are from BigBelly Solar, which markets and sells the world’s first trash compactor powered by solar power. In addition to each trash compactor being solar powered, they also have a computer chip installed in them which includes network management software. This allows the compactors to send a message when they are full alerting that a pick up is needed.

The compactors will  promote dramatic cost savings, reduce overflowing, prevent illegal trash littering, decrease the number of collection trips, and cut related fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.  In addition, the technological compactors will lower public health concerns by providing a cleaner environment, leaving the Lark Street area looking great!

See the Blog

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Four new solar-powered trash compactors made their debut yesterday in Frankfurt’s Christmas Market.

When people put their trash in one of the new super bins, the bin gives them a sweet Christmas serenade.

Each bin sings a different carol, including “O Tannenbaum” and “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

Frankfurt’s head of street cleaning, Herr Peter Postleb, came up with this witty and golden idea.

“As a small thank you for throwing away your trash, the bin sings you a song,” said Herr Postleb.

Passersby were delighted to use the solar compactors and hear the music.

The technology to enable the singing effect was added to the BigBelly solar compactors in Germany.

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Watch the video from Bild.de (in German)

Watch a video from Sat.1 (in German)

Read the article (PDF – in German)

Watch a related video from Sat.1 (in German – aired Oct 2010)