Somerville, Massachusetts
In 2006, the City of Somerville decided to pilot BigBelly machines. The city requested a lease with an option to buy five units and deployed them in Davis Square, the city's busiest business and entertainment district. Michael Lambert, Chief of Staff to the Mayor Joseph Curtatone, said: "Somerville is a densely populated city with a tight budget — so we are always seeking ways to do more with less. We had a number of constantly-overflowing trash cans in our squares that City staff were visiting four times a day or more for collection. We did a several-month test trial with five BigBellies, and they made a big difference. We've now dropped to one collection per day at our busiest spots, saving valuable staff time. The BigBellies eliminated unsightly and unhealthy trashcan overflow at each site they were placed, even at our Dunkin Donuts / Bus Stop location, and our residents have noticed with approval. We decided without reservation to purchase the trial units, and we plan to budget for more in the spring."
In 2007, the city won a grant from the EPA to revitalize "open spaces" and is currently planning a city wide BigBelly installation. This installation will be enabled with wireless notification capabilities which will enhance the benefits of its BigBellies.