Dive Brief:
- The city of Soldotna, Alaska, has purchased ten BigBelly solar powered trash bins.
- The unanimous decision to convert to the new bins was made in order to reduce the amount of time city employees collect trash from parks and recreational areas.
- The bins are bear-proof, compact waste on its own and alerts sanitation personnel by text when it needs to be emptied.
Dive Insight:
The Director of Parks and Recreation in Alaska asked officials in Philadelphia about their experience regarding the bins. In Philly, the collections were reduced to three times weekly, instead of the 17 pick-ups the city used to do before the new bins were installed. Other cities such as Syracuse and Manhattan are installing the bins.
