Dublin, IRELAND – Trinity College Dublin has installed the country’s first BigBelly solar compacting bins on campus. The BigBelly Solar Compactor is a patented compacting waste bin that is completely self-powered.  Instead of requiring an electrical connection, BigBelly uses solar power for 100% of its energy needs.  The unit takes up as much space as the “footprint” of an ordinary street side bin – but its capacity is five times greater.

Increased capacity reduces collection trips and can cut fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.  BigBelly also provides cost efficiencies from labour savings, fuel cost and maintenance savings, as well as environmental benefits from reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.  The BigBelly Solar Compactors are safe, easy to use and designed to keep out pests, rodents and eliminate issues that open bins have.

“The installation of ten of these environmentally friendly bins on campus is another example of Trinity’s being leaders in waste management. Last year, the College reached its 50% recycling target, recycling half of the total waste produced on its main campus. The College now leads the way in Ireland’s third level sector in relation to recycling,” stated Mr Noel McCann, Facilities Officer at Trinity College.

Source: Trinity College Dublin News Room