Solar-powered waste compacting bin
A solar-powered waste compactor is a smart device that reads a waste bin's fill-level in real-time and triggers an automatic compaction of the waste, effectively increasing the bin's capacity by up to 5-8 times.[1][2] The compaction mechanism runs on a battery, which is charged by the solar panel. Fully charged, the battery reserve lasts for approximately 3-4 weeks depending on the compaction frequency and usage patterns.[3]
Solar-powered waste compactors are typically connected to a remote software platform through wireless 2G/3G networks. The platform enables waste collection managers to access real-time data analytics and route optimization.
Solar-powered compactors are primarily used in high foot traffic areas such as town centers, shopping malls, amusement parks, beaches, transit stations and sports stadiums.[3]
Advantages
Some of the benefits of using solar-powered waste compactors include:[4]
- Reduced frequency of waste collections
- Cleaner and more hygienic public spaces
- Historical waste collection data analytics
- Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
- Savings in operational waste collection costs
References
- "Bigbelly's Wi-Fi-enabled, solar-powered bins could lead to smarter cities". newatlas.com. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
- Ramirez, Elaine (2016-06-14). "Internet of bins: smart, solar powered trashcans in Colombian cities". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
- Labs, Ecube. "Ecube Labs - FAQ". ecubelabs.com. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
- "Bigbelly – Benefits". bigbelly.com. Retrieved 2016-08-01.