solar_garbage_can.jpg, image/jpeg, 355x352
Original article is at http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2009/03/74065.php Print comments.
Chandler installs solar cells in the SHADE!
by No sunlight here
Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2009 at 2:01 PM
City of Chandler installs “solar powered garbage cans” in the SHADE!
At the Chandler library they installed a “solar powered trash can”, yes that is a “solar powered trash can” in front of the library, and in the SHADE!
I figure you should install any machinery that runs on solar cells in full sunlight, but hey at the Chandler library they installed the machine in the SHADE. But then again this is government and we are not talking about people that understand reality. Or maybe I have a misunderstanding in the concept, and the solar cells on this machine operate in the dark!
Well at least it is in the shade most of the day. It looks like around 2 or 3 in the afternoon the device will get full sunlight.
Luckily I didn’t have to do a public records request to get more info on this “solar powered trash can” because the url of the people that sell the device is on the back of the trash can and I visited their site to get the facts. Their site is at:
http://bigbellysolar.com/
or call them toll free at:
(888)820-0300
Just what on earth does a “solar powered garbage can” do? Well according to their web site the “solar powered trash can” has a sensor in it and when ever the trash can gets full it squishes the trash down to one fifth of the original size. Which means you save mega bucks on labor because you only have to empty the trash a fifth as much as you usually do.
They even had a testimonial from ASU in Tempe which also has a few “solar powered garbage cans” on their campus. The folks at ASU said they only empty the garbage cans half to a third as much as they usually do, not as great the glowing one fifth figure claimed by manufacture, but still enough to save a little money on that janitor from Guatamala they pay minimum wage who empties the garbage cans.
The manufactures web site did say the solar cells on the device should be installed where it gets sunlight, so maybe the members of the Chandler City Council didn’t read the instructions before they installed the device.
How much does a “solar powered garbage can” cost? Well their web site says they will sell you a brand spanking new “solar powered garbage can” for a measly $3,750. Hey that is only 7 times as expensive as an entry level non-solar powered trash can their web site says you can buy for a measly $500. Although I bet if I shopped around I could find a stinking outdoor trash can for less then $500.
Just to be fair to Big Belly and the government nannies on the Chandler City Council I should say that I think buying “solar powered garbage can” for almost $4 grand is a waste of money, but the folks at Big Belly say you can save lots of bucks. According to them if you buy one of their Big Belly “solar powered garbage cans” you can save $7,300 to $30,000 in labor costs over the lifetime of the “solar powered garbage can”.
Last “solar powered garbage can” is not maintenance free like normal garbage cans. They need tune ups every now and then. The battery can die and needs to be checked. The motor and other parts can wear out. So I guess even though you will save a little money on the minimum wage guy that empties the garbage you will have to pay a technician some big bucks to do a tune up every now and then.
I bet the real reason they bought a “solar powered garbage can” was so they could teach all the grade school children that they parade thru the library that it is politically correct to waste you money on expensive solar energy and other expensive “green solutions”.
Of course it might backfire because I suspect most of those grade school kids are smart enough to ask the dumb adults why they installed the solar powered machine in the shade.