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It was only a question of time. BigBelly Solar has expanded its product line with a solar-powered compactor for recyclables.
The Massachusetts-based company first started selling rubbish bins with a small 30-watt solar panel on the top to power a compactor a couple of years ago.
Municipalities have been buying them to cut down on the number of trips that bin men need to make. That cuts down on fuel costs (garbage trucks get about 2.5 mpg) and reduces street congestion and pollution. There's also the element of 'green PR' when people see the solar panel on the top of a rubbish bin.
Now BigBelly Solar has developed a compactor for recycled goods. It comes in a few configurations, but the recycling units (for paper or bottles and cans) have their own panels and are placed next to solar rubbish bins.
The product design is meant to be green all the way through by using recycled plastic and non-toxic paint. Ultimately, BigBelly plans on equipping its units with communications capabilities so that they can tell rubbish collectors when they're full or broken. Pretty neat.
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Discover the brilliant experienced people who are helping SmartPlanet through the green and ethical minefield.
