Eco-Friendly Waste Bins will be Installed Throughout Newly Expanded MetroTech BID
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 – Brooklyn, NY — The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership today joined with Council Member Laurie Cumbo, Bigbelly, Green City Solutions and National Grid to announce the expansion of the Bigbelly smart waste and recycling system into new areas of Downtown Brooklyn.
The smart Bigbelly system has already been installed and in use in parts of Downtown Brooklyn, including Albee Square and Fulton Mall, optimizing public space waste operations by reducing collection frequency and measurably increasing recycling behaviors. The solar-powered waste and recycling kiosks, featuring National Grid advertisements, will now be installed in locations in the newly expanded footprint of the MetroTech BID an area that includes the Atlantic Terminal and BAM. The enclosed design and increased capacity of the kiosks keep waste contained for cleaner public spaces across Downtown Brooklyn.
“Keeping Downtown Brooklyn clean and leading the way on smarter, sustainable waste management are two of our top priorities, and expanding the smart waste and recycling system throughout the neighborhood will help us achieve both of these,” said Ryan Grew, Director of Operations for the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “We’re pleased to continue working with Bigbelly, National Grid, and Green City on an effort that has already paid dividends in Downtown Brooklyn.”
“Smart city technologies are the wave of the future, and I am pleased that the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is using this innovation to create a greener planet,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Smart city implementations such as these solar waste bins allow us to evaluate and monitor waste levels as well as track data to make certain we are becoming more efficient in both our time and resources.”
“For the past decade, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership has served as a resource for local businesses that rely on their services to maintain the cleanliness and beautification of our commercial corridor in downtown Brooklyn,” said Council Member Laurie Cumbo. “I applaud the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership for their unwavering community commitment, cultural dedication and public programming prowess in the 35th Council District.”
“The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership continues to show its leadership by embracing a smart waste and recycling system to make their public spaces cleaner and more enjoyable,” said Jack Kutner, Bigbelly’s CEO. “In addition to improving core services and infrastructure, the Bigbelly system provides an environmentally-friendly and sustainable solution with expanded public space recycling disposal at each location. The use of an innovative, connected technology platform continues to support the Partnership’s commitment to provide substantial benefit to residents, business owners, and visitors of the area.”
“As one of the first companies to take part in the solar recycling kiosk initiative, National Grid has been able to expand its outreach efforts to provide important gas safety messages for our customers and our communities,” said National Grid Director of Community and Customer Management Mike Ruiz. “These environmentally friendly fixtures support National Grid’s commitment to the environment and align with our goals to create 21st century energy systems.”
The new bins that will be installed will build on Downtown Brooklyn’s ongoing effort to keep streets clean. Thirty-two tons of waste have already been collected in the 42 kiosks already installed throughout this new expansion area.
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About Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination.
Working together with the three business improvement districts (BID) that it manages – the MetroTech BID, Fulton Mall Improvement Association, and Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn BID – the Partnership’s diverse activities include attracting new businesses and improving the environment for existing companies; facilitating the construction of public spaces and streetscapes that promote an active and cohesive community; supporting and promoting Downtown Brooklyn’s cultural assets; and encouraging a unified sense of place and an engaged civic community. The Partnership is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2016. For more information, visit www.downtownbrooklyn.com.
About Bigbelly
Bigbelly, Inc. is the world-leading provider of smart waste & recycling management solutions with more than 1,500 customers in 50 countries. Solar-powered, the Bigbelly Smart Waste & Recycling System combines smart, compacting waste and recycling stations with cloud-connected management software for real-time visibility, actionable insights, and robust analytics with reporting for optimized, data-driven waste operations. The system helps customers beautify their public space and reduce operational costs by 70-80 percent. Discover more at: www.bigbelly.com.
About Green City Solutions
Green City Solutions, in partnership with Bigbelly Solar, is the only company uniquely focused on providing financially attractive and intelligent solutions for public space waste and recycling. We believe in marrying the power of corporate partnership with the attractiveness of a modern and efficient waste and recycling system. We are committed to promoting environmentally responsible solutions that serve the greater community. For more information, visit www.greencitysolutions.com.
About National Grid
National Grid is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeast US, serving more than 3.5 million customers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. In New York, National Grid owns and operates three gas distribution utilities that provide services to approximately 2.4 million customers in Upstate New York, Long Island and New York City – specifically Brooklyn, Staten Island and parts of Queens.
