San Marcos, TX - Fox 7 News:
FOXe Report: Solar Trash Compactors
June 30, 2009 06:18 PM
Head to downtown San Marcos, and you'll find a trash can with one big appetite.
"This is a BigBelly solar compactor," said Mayor Susan Narvaiz.
…Added Parks and Recreation Facilities Director Jimmy Venable: "It's five times as much trash as you get in one can." And it's an appetite fed by the sun….
San Marcos is testing out three of these solar-powered trash compactors…. [S]ince trash is compacted down, they rarely need to be emptied.
"Since we got these downtown, we've emptied them twice, where the other ones have been emptied 2 or 3 times a week," said Venable.
The city hopes the units will pay for themselves in four years. So far, they've gotten plenty of second-looks.…
"We want to see a cleaner, greener San Marcos," said Narvaiz….
"So far, [the solar trash cans have] been working pretty good," said Venable.
You can find the solar-powered trash compactors on the town square in front of San Marcos Title Company, on LBJ Drive near University Drive, and at Hopkins and Guadalupe streets.