 BigBelly compactors can be found in the Dustbowl, outside Yawkey Center, and on Upper Campus.
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Boston College Facilities Management recently installed three eco-friendly trash compactors on campus. The solar- powered units, each a little larger than a regular trash can, compact the trash placed in them, allowing them to contain more trash and necessitating less frequent collection.
The three receptacles are located in the Dustbowl, between Kostka Hall and Gonzaga Hall, and near Yawkey Center.
The receptacles have appeared across the Boston area in the past two years, said Deirdre Manning, director of sustainability and energy management. The city of Boston, in particular, has embraced the product. Mayor Thomas M. Menino has championed them as a way to reduce litter and cut back on labor costs. In 2005, when a trial of the compactors was launched in the city, Menino said to reporters, "Too much of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department's annual budget is spent on cleaning up trash that hasn't been disposed of properly." BigBelly units were also recently installed in Fenway Park. Manufactured by BigBelly Solar, they are powered entirely by solar energy.
Manning said that there are a number of advantages that the BigBelly units offer over simpler trash receptacles. According to BigBelly Solar materials, the units, which are only for trash, can hold the contents of up to five ordinary trash containers, thereby requiring fewer pickups and eliminating litter created by overflowing bins. "They compact the trash, reducing the labor for the grounds crew, so there is a savings in terms of labor," Manning said. "They were targeted where grounds crews had been unable to keep up with the trash."
Manning said there are some plans to expand the program. The current units only collect trash, but companion recycling bins are slated for installation in the coming weeks. There are not currently any BigBelly compactors on the Newton Campus, but one may be installed there if they prove effective. Manning said that a primary concern in installing the units is location. "They have to be in highly visible places with a lot of foot traffic," she said.
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