Trash collection is an expensive, time-consuming business – and a necessity for public health and safety. The City had been making 17 trips each week to empty 700 wire baskets throughout Center City, at an annual cost of about $2.3 million.  After replacing those 700 receptacles with 500 solar-powered compactors and 210 recycling units, the City collects only 5 times a week, at an annual operating cost of about $720,000 – representing a 70% savings. Performing those 17 collections each week required 33 workers on 3 shifts, while performing the 5 collections per week under the new program requires only 9 workers on a single shift.  The other workers have been re-assigned to other, more productive tasks.  The deployment plan was a comprehensive package including a 3-year financing program, a 4-year extended warranty and service plan, and a wireless monitoring system on all 500 units.

 

Highlights of the program include:

 

 

In conjunction with the installation of the solar-powered trash compactors, the City introduced public space recycling for the very first time in Philadelphia.  Mayor Nutter has launched a major public relations and neighborhood education campaign called "Philly Throws Green". This program is part of the Mayor’s broader initiative called "Greenworks Philadelphia", the new comprehensive sustainability framework designed to help the City meet its proclaimed goal of becoming "America's number one green city."

 

While the City of Philadelphia currently has the largest deployment of solar compactors, the BigBelly machines are helping keep communities cleaner and more efficient in 40 states and 20 countries, in downtowns, parks, beaches, college campuses, zoos, stadiums, and many other busy and remote locations.

 

In the current economy, many cities and towns are actively seeking ways to reduce operating costs and balance their budgets.  The City of Philadelphia is demonstrating that solar compactors can significantly reduce annual operating costs in the first year, and for years thereafter, by reducing collection frequency requirements. Providing the City’s first public-space recycling program and having the ability to track operations are additional features of the program, which offers clear economic, environmental and educational benefits.

BigBelly Solar is the maker of the BigBelly® – the world’s only solar powered waste compaction system. BigBelly Solar was founded in 2003 with a mission to improve the environment and the economy by crafting efficient solutions to everyday problems. We develop innovative, cost-saving approaches to reducing fossil fuel consumption, making for cleaner, more efficient communities. Our flagship product, the BigBelly, can be found around the world, reducing costs by cutting down the frequency of trash collection trips. Made in USA. To learn more please visit www.bigbellysolar.com.