Rehoboth installs solar-powered trash cans

Looking to reduce trash in high-volume pedestrian areas, Rehoboth Beach recently installed 14 Bigbelly solar-powered, trash-compacting containers.

Krys Johnson, city spokesperson, said the 14 containers cost about $132,000 and have been installed along Baltimore and Wilmington avenues and First Street. She said Grove Park and Stockley Street Park will also be getting Bigbelly trash and recycling containers.

A Bigbelly trash can uses solar panels to run motorized compactors. Johnson said the compactor reduces waste volumes and helps prevent overflow, windblown litter and unwanted odors.

Johnson said the capacity of each Bigbelly is 150 gallons, providing five times the capacity of a traditional container. Also, she said, the trashcans have built-in cloud computing technology that provides notifications when they have reached capacity.

Johnson said the bins are ADA compliant with both hand- and foot-operated levers. She said the Bigbellies are in use around the country in thousands of cities, college campuses and entertainment parks.

For more information, contact the city’s communications department at 302-227-6181, Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.