Photo courtesy of bigbellysolar.com
Susan Gwiasda
City of Ames
(March 13, 2012 - 2 p.m.) As part of its commitment to implementing energy-efficient solutions, the City of Ames will be installing two solar-powered trash compactors at pocket parks located in Campustown and downtown Ames. Compacted trash, like all garbage in Ames, will be taken to the Resource Recovery Plant for processing into fuel for the Ames Power Plant. Ten percent of the fuel used at the Ames Power Plant is derived from processed trash.
On Wednesday, a BigBelly Solar intelligent waste and recycling collection system will be installed in Campustown Court, at the corner of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street, and in Tom Evans Park, at Main Street and Burnett Avenue. The compactor looks like a large trash can, but can hold many more times the waste of a conventional receptacle. The compaction process is solar powered, and fewer trash collection visits mean lower costs, less pollution, and less congestion.
“When Iowa State University began placing these on campus, we talked with ISU officials about their experience. Then we began looking at places around the city where this type of product would work well,” said Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Carroll. “We are excited to offer these compactors in high-traffic areas, and we think residents will appreciate the increased efficiency.”
The BigBelly systems will alert City staff through wireless technology when the compactor needs to be emptied.
Each unit costs just under $5,000.
waste of money
Really? Just use a regular trash can.
Meanwhile, the city will continue to use a coal fired power plant. But we can pretend to ignore that and act like we are so environmentally conscious.
Such
A waste of money....
When ISU first installed
When ISU first installed these on campus, some students mistook them for a book return. Many books got mashed in with the trash before they were moved away from the library.
to When
It is true that some ISU students mistook the bins for a book return, but it is a gross exaggeration to say "many" books got smashed. Safer to say some books got smashed or even more accurately; a book got smashed.
Either way, it's still funny.
Either way, it's still funny.
I struggle
I struggle with the notion that solar powered compactors are somehow part of a sustainable community. I understand that they hold more waste and are emptied less often and this saves fuel and labor. Just seems to ignore the root of the problem, that being we throw way too much stuff away.
I'm old enough to remember when being thirsty, meant finding a fountain. In my lifetime, things have shifted to where everyone needs a portable (and disposable) container of water. Now throwing those bottles away with great efficiency is progress? Seems to me we would be way ahead if we just brought back the fountains.
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