Long Beach introduced its second solar trash can Wednesday.
The new solar device was installed in Belmont Shore as part of a six-month-long pilot project in various parts of the city.
The bins harness the power of the sun in an effort aimed at slashing waste, costs and greenhouse gases, according to city officials.
These containers can compact about 150 gallons of trash and compact the material into a 32-gallon bin, squeezing the trash into just 20 percent of its normal volume.
This could translate into savings, since trash collections could be reduced. The bins also come side by side with bottle, can and paper recycling units to boost conservation.
The first installation was on the 200 block of Pine Avenue in downtown.
"The Parking Commission has been working for years to bring recycling to Belmont Shore," said Kurt Schneiter, member of the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission. "The installation of the solar trash can allows us to use innovative technology to increase recycling and hopefully will lead to a cleaner Belmont Shore."
Made from recycled materials, the self-powered system uses built-in solar panels to compact the trash, relying on solar power for 100 percent of the compactor's needs.
The panels, located on top of the compactor, can store energy in a recyclable battery, charging the device when it's not sunny. When the container is full, sensors trigger the compactor, flattening the 180 gallons of trash into easy-to-manage bags. The green light on the compactor turns from green to yellow, transmitting a signal to alert collectors that the unit should be picked up.
The new solar device was installed in Belmont Shore as part of a six-month-long pilot project in various parts of the city.
The bins harness the power of the sun in an effort aimed at slashing waste, costs and greenhouse gases, according to city officials.
These containers can compact about 150 gallons of trash and compact the material into a 32-gallon bin, squeezing the trash into just 20 percent of its normal volume.
This could translate into savings, since trash collections could be reduced. The bins also come side by side with bottle, can and paper recycling units to boost conservation.
The first installation was on the 200 block of Pine Avenue in downtown.
"The Parking Commission has been working for years to bring recycling to Belmont Shore," said Kurt Schneiter, member of the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission. "The installation of the solar trash can allows us to use innovative technology to increase recycling and hopefully will lead to a cleaner Belmont Shore."
Made from recycled materials, the self-powered system uses built-in solar panels to compact the trash, relying on solar power for 100 percent of the compactor's needs.
The panels, located on top of the compactor, can store energy in a recyclable battery, charging the device when it's not sunny. When the container is full, sensors trigger the compactor, flattening the 180 gallons of trash into easy-to-manage bags. The green light on the compactor turns from green to yellow, transmitting a signal to alert collectors that the unit should be picked up.
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
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