On April 30, 2009, Mayor Michael Nutter unveiled the first of 500 BigBelly solar-powered trash compactors and 210 companion single-stream recycling units to be installed throughout Center City Philadelphia. The solar compactors save time, money and fuel by reducing demand for collection trips. The compactors are also smart trash receptacles: each unit sends a wireless signal to alert staff when it is full, so managers can optimize collection routes in real time based on data from every machine in the field.
Richard B. Kennelly | BigBelly Solar
- Immediate savings: By entering into a 3-year financing arrangement, the City has no up-front capital cost and will realize collection cost savings in the first year of approximately $850,000.
- Ongoing savings: The City will save nearly $13 million in cumulative collection cost savings over the next 10 years, net of the equipment cost.
- Annual operating cost reduction of 70 percent: compaction reduces collection demand, which directly reduces operating costs and associated vehicle fuel use and emissions.
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Before
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After
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Savings
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Collection frequency
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17/week
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5/week
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12/week (70%)
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Annual operating cost
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$2,300,000
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$720,000
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$1,580,000 (70%)
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Cumulative 10-year cost
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$23 million
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$10 million
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$13 million (70%)
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About BigBelly Solar
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