Mission Viejo Tests New BigBelly Solar Powered Trash Compactors

December 24th, 2009 by Tina Casey

Mission Viejo, California has become the latest in a string of cities to try out a new sustainable street-scale solar powered trash compactor called the BigBelly Solar Compactor. In partnership with its waste hauler Waste Management, the city hopes to cut trash pickups from street containers by up to 80%, which in turn would help cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fuel use, and shave some costs off the city’s waste hauling budget.

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The city is starting with two BigBelly solar compactors at its Civic Center, and it anticipates a successful trial. Solar technology and battery storage technology are rapidly approaching the point where solar equipment can operate without the need for direct sunlight every day, so look for more urban street fixtures to go solar in the near future.

BigBelly Solar Trash Compactor and Waste Management

The Mission Viejo project is just the latest in a series of sustainable energy ventures undertaken by Houston-based Waste Management, which recently became the exclusive distributor of BigBelly solar compactors for waste services. This year the company also kicked off a nationwide concert venue waste recycling campaign in partnership with music industry giant Live Nation, and it also started using sustainable landfill gas as fuel for its trucks.

Image: BigBelly Solar Trash Compactor by specialkrb on flickr.com.

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Tags: BigBelly Solar Compactor, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Mission Viejo, waste management

About the Author

Tina Casey Tina Casey specializes in military and corporate sustainability, advanced technology, emerging materials, biofuels, and water and wastewater issues. Tina’s articles are reposted frequently on Reuters, Scientific American, and many other sites. Views expressed are her own. Follow her on Twitter @TinaMCasey and Google+.