Pennsylvania - DCNR Newsletter:
“BigBelly” found on the Beach at Gifford Pinchot
September 1, 2009 06:03 AM
You may find yourself wanting a “BigBelly” like the one on the beach at Gifford Pinchot State Park. It is their new solar trash receptacle/compactor and recycling bin. The bin has been well received by park visitors, and the issue of strewn trash near the beach and concession stand has decreased substantially.
Park Manager, Bill Rosevear stated that when they went to the larger receptacle dumpsters, which had to be placed in the parking lots for the disposal trucks to access them, they began to have problems with visitors not properly disposing of their trash. ... This resulted in a Monday morning laborious process by park staff, whom had to comb the beach area and pick up the discarded trash that was left on the ground.
“BigBelly” has transformed that routine. Now, the visitors become inquisitive with this new fangled sundriven trash receptacle. The tendency is to want to put the discarded item into the trash, and see if they are the ‘lucky winner’ to trigger the compactor to start the compression cycle.
The compactor has a sensor to know when it is full, and that triggers the
compactor. Due to the sun charging the battery, its always ready to work
on cloudy days, rainy weather, and even when it snows. It has multiple
safety features as well.
The compactor is in use in other areas such as Chicago, Philadelphia,
Massachusetts State Parks, Michigan State Parks, Drexel University, Fort Meade MD, and Kutztown University just to name a few.
Now on Monday mornings, Rosevear can use his staffs’ valuable time to work on other projects to improve the park.