Jul 10, 2008 6:30 pm US/Eastern
City Goes High-Tech To Clean Up Trash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
City officials are hoping a new high-tech trash can used in other big cities will help in cleaning up garbage.
The Center City district says this is a gift to all of us.
"They are the world's only solar powered trash compactors that are free standing," Paul Levy of the Center City district said.
Solar panels energize a battery that operates 1,200 pounds of pressure, crushing the trash inside.
Big Belly Solar invented it to basically eat your trash and still have room for more.
"So in this area, we can get 200 gallons of uncompacted trash into that gets compacted into that small bin down there," Rick Gaudette of Big Belly Solar said.
Pretty cool, but is it necessary?
The commissioner of the streets department says yes.
"One they cannot overflow and two, I think very important, is that they cannot be abused," Clarena Tolson said.
Unlike the regular bins, a household trash bag won't fit inside. And they're closed, so the wind won't blow out litter.
But the number one reason … "They hold four times the amount of trash as a typical city trashcan," Levy said.
That translates to less trash collections and more fuel savings, so it's cleaner and greener.
But at $3,000 to $4,000 each, some say it's just a waste of tax dollars.
"It seems to me if the streets department would just try picking up regular trash from regular trash cans on a more regular basis and put out more regular trash cans, that might be a better solution," resident Terry Lefco said.
Whether the solar machines are actually worth the money depends on who you talk to, the city says they'll pay for themselves in two years.
Especially in busy areas where trash pickup is more frequent.
But the city isn't sold just yet; the three solar compactors in Center City are just here for a 30 day test run.
RELATED LINKS:
Center City District
Center City District - Press Release
BigBelly Solar
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
