Oceanside, CA - North County Times:
Oceanside: Here comes the sun. There goes the trash
December 16, 2009 07:00 PM
Waste hauler demos solar-powered compactor seen as cost-saver for cities
There's a new attraction at the pier city officials hope will draw lots of visitors. It's a solar-powered trash compactor, along with an adjacent recycling bin.
The compactor was donated to Oceanside by Waste Management Inc., which hopes to encourage municipalities across the country to buy them.
Over the next few months, several more of the bright green and yellow compactors will be installed in San Diego County as part of the demonstration program. One will go into Carlsbad, said Waste Management spokeswoman Jordan Cole, with the other locations being determined.
Cities can save money with the machines, because compacted garbage doesn't have to be collected as frequently, said Ken Ryan, district manager for Waste Management of North County. They typically repay the cost in about two years, he said.
Ryan and Oceanside officials gathered Wednesday afternoon at the pier to explain how the compactor works. A solar panel covered by a transparent panel on the top provides the power, which is stored in a 12-volt battery that can run the compactor for several days. The trash can be squeezed into just 20 percent of its normal volume. ...
The compactor has safety features so it won't compress the trash when a hand is placed inside. Because it's enclosed, animals can't get inside, and the waste is kept from getting outside. To discourage vandalism, it's bolted down.
The solar-powered compactor is part of Oceanside's effort to be environmentally friendly, said Colleen Foster, a management analyst with the city.