What are these huge black trash cans downtown? What's wrong with the ones we already had? - J.L.R.
Those are "BigBelly® Solar-powered trash compactors and their companion recycling bins." The City of Richmond is installing 44 of them around downtown Richmond and in several city parks.
"Mayor Dwight C. Jones has implemented several sustainability and eco-friendly programs city-wide designed to reduce Richmond’s carbon footprint," according to a news release. "Last fall the City conducted a successful test-pilot utilizing BigBelly® Solar cans outside City Hall."
OK, we already had trash cans, and now we have more new ones? I don't know what was wrong with the old cans but the city said the solar kiosks were purchased through a $2.1 million Department of Energy block grant. Several other sustainability initiatives also received a portion of the funding.
"Because the compactors crush the trash their capacity is greater than five times that of regular cans," the release continued. "Each compactor can hold up to 32 gallons of trash, which is the equivalent of 170 to 200 gallons of un-compacted waste. As a result, they will not have to be emptied as often; which means the City will be able to conserve human resources, fuel and can minimize the use of solid waste trucks in areas where the cans are placed."
Don't expect the recycling bins to discourage Richmond's homeless from doing their civic duty to clean our streets by collecting aluminum cans and other recyclables. Check this list a recycling centers around Richmond.
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