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.