With 300 plus days on sunshine in many parts of Northern Colorado I can’t help but wonder if we won’t be seeing these in many places in the very near future.

What is it, you ask? It’s a BigBelly and it’s the world’s only solar-powered cordless compaction system.

BigBelly uses the sun’s energy to automatically compact trash at the point of disposal, which dramatically increases it’s capacity for trash up to 5 times that of a normal trash can of the same size.

BigBellies increased capacity in turn reduces the number of trips required to empty it thereby reducing related fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

The enclosed design of BigBelly also keeps pests out and the litter in. Safe and easy to use, BigBelly has proven successful in urban streets, parks, colleges, arenas – and in all weather conditions.

I wonder if the city council knows about BigBelly???

Here are some fun facts about BigBelly from the companies website:

• BigBelly can operate for a day on the equivalent energy it takes to make a piece of toast!
• BigBelly can operate for a week on the equivalent energy it takes to make a pot of coffee!
• BigBelly can operate for four months on the equivalent energy it takes to drive a Prius one mile!
• BigBelly can operate for eight years on the equivalent energy it takes to drive a garbage truck one mile!
• The first BigBelly was installed in Vail, Colorado in 2004.
• BigBelly Solar has over 40 distributors in the US and around the world.
• The newest model of BigBelly is 200 lbs. lighter and has a 33% smaller footprint than its predecessor.
• BigBelly is made in the USA!
• The standard black machine is made with recycled ABS plastic.
• Some of the high profile BigBelly locations are:
  • Fenway Park (home of The Boston Red Sox)
  • Boston’s Faneuil Hall
  • Baltimore Inner Harbour
  • The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas
  • Chicago Millennium Park
  • Harvard University
  • Walden Pond (of Henry David Thoreau fame)

Have you seen any in use in Northern Colorado yet? If so please snap a picture of it showing it’s location, record the time and date, give us your name and tell us what your first impression of it was in the comment box below and if you’re the first to do so we’ll send you a $10.00 Walmart gift card.