BigBelly, a solar-powered trash compactor
The National Public Radio (NPR) recently reported that the Chicago Park District has installed 25 solar-powered trash compactors to keep the beaches clean and safe. The BigBelly units look like ordinary trash cans, but can hold up to 4 to 6 times as much trash as ordinary units. And because they are less prone to overflows, the seagulls and other birds will get less food. This will lead to decreased amounts of birds droppings, which contribute to high levels of E.coli bacteria in the water. These solar-powered trash cans exist for several years now, and can be installed almost everywhere.