PHILADELPHIA — Is it any surprise that a city known for its love of cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and cannolis would embrace a solar-powered trash compactor called a BigBelly?
In the largest rollout yet, Philadelphia has replaced 700 downtown trash bins with 500 of the high-tech compactors, which use solar energy to condense trash — cutting down collection trips by 75 percent.
Facing a $1.4 billion, five-year budget deficit, the city estimates it will save $875,000 a year with the compactors, bought with state grant money. The devices each cost between $3,195 and $3,995.
Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson said the compactors, the last of which was installed this month, usually need to be emptied five times a week — as opposed to 19 times for a regular can. The change frees up 25 streets department employees.
