Waste Management to Offer New Solar Powered Trash Compactor
June 12 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Solar-powered trash receptacle to use renewable energy to save
money and turn public spaces into clean eco-friendly zones HOUSTON,
June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Waste Management (NYSE:WMI) today
announced that it has entered into an agreement with BigBelly Solar
under which Waste Management will provide WM Solar Powered Trash
Compactors to its customers including municipalities and
high-traffic facilities. Under the agreement, Waste Management has
become the exclusive waste and environmental services company
distributor of BigBelly solar compactor technology in North
America. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090219/WMLOGO) The new
service offering was officially launched at the U.S. Conference of
Mayors in Providence, Rhode Island, with a solar powered compactor
present at the conference. "We know busy intersections, public
parks, city streets, sporting events and other public spaces can be
magnets for trash," said Dave Aardsma, senior vice president of
sales and marketing for Waste Management. "Ordinary trash barrels
can easily overflow and become eyesores. The Waste Management solar
powered trash compactor can provide a number of solutions in those
uses, by reducing waste collection frequency, lowering costs for
our customers and ensuring a greener, cleaner environment." WM
Solar Powered Trash Compactors are completely self-powered, using
built-in solar panels to compact trash. About the same size as a
standard 35-gallon trash barrel, each compactor provides five times
the capacity of a traditional trash receptacle. When the unit
reaches capacity, sensors trigger an internal compactor that
flattens the contents, converting 180 gallons of waste into
easy-to-collect bags. A wireless system then signals that the unit
is ready to be picked up. This cuts the need for trash pickup by up
to 80 percent, which reduces collection costs, fuel use and
greenhouse gas emissions. The compactors also include receptacles
for collecting plastic bottles, newspapers, glass and other
recyclables. "We're very excited to bring the benefits of on-site
solar compaction to such a wide group of customers nationwide,"
said Richard Kennelly, vice president of marketing for BigBelly
Solar. "These compactors are made from recycled materials, and even
work in areas that don't receive direct sunlight." Waste Management
will initially target municipal governments and high-traffic
facilities interested in reducing the need for trash collection and
keeping public spaces clean and litter free. "Consumers report that
convenience and accessibility of public trash and recycling
receptacles are a major influence in encouraging them to dispose of
waste properly and to recycle more," said Matt McKenna, president
and CEO of national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
"Providing environmentally responsible options in public spaces can
be a valuable tool for communities as they raise awareness of the
importance of proper waste disposal." Waste Management has also
installed 15 units at Patriot Place, a 1.3-million-square-foot
retail, dining and event destination adjacent to Gillette Stadium
in Foxborough, Mass. "Our WM Solar Powered Compactors are an
important piece of Patriot Place's overall sustainability and
recycling initiatives," said Brian Earley, general manager of
Patriot Place. "In addition to promoting recycling and reducing our
waste volume and energy consumption, we have realized significant
operational efficiencies and cost savings for waste removal."
Together with Waste Management's other sustainability goals, Waste
Management is investing in new technologies to better manage waste,
including in public spaces. About Waste Management Waste
Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of
comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our
subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource
recovery, and disposal services. We are also a leading developer,
operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy
facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential,
commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North
America. To learn more visit http://www.wm.com/ or
http://www.thinkgreen.com/. About BigBelly Solar BigBelly Solar is
the maker of the BigBelly - the world's only solar powered waste
compaction system. BigBelly Solar was founded in 2003 with a
mission to improve the environment and the economy by crafting
efficient solutions to everyday problems. We develop innovative,
cost-saving approaches to reducing fossil fuel consumption, making
for cleaner, more efficient communities. Our flagship product, the
BigBelly, can be found around the world, reducing costs by cutting
down the frequency of trash collection trips. Made in USA. To learn
more please visit http://www.bigbellysolar.com/. For Further
Information: Waste Management Media: Wes Muir 713.328.7053
http://www.wm.com/
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090219/WMLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Waste Management CONTACT:
Wes Muir of Waste Management, +1-713-328-7053 Web Site:
http://www.wm.com/ http://www.thinkgreen.com/
http://www.bigbellysolar.com/
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