Solar-powered trash bins sound an improbable invention. Big Belly solar-powered trash compaction systems monitor internal trash levels and compact trash to reduce and control collection cycles. The idea is that garbage trucks then have to drive round less often, saving work and cutting pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The system allows it to hold up to five times the amount of normal rubbish bins and cuts emissions by reducing the number of trips needed by vehicles to empty them.
On the outside of the barrels are light meters to display fullness, represented by green, yellow and red surface-mount LEDs. The meter will go from green, meaning it’s good and good to go, to yellow, meaning it’s really time to come pick it up and eventually they’ll hit red when the machine has become overfull and is really past its capacity. The aesthetic importance of these barrels is that they don’t look much different than standard, non-compacting barrels and therefore don’t attract unneeded attention.
Via: SmartPlanet
