NC: High-tech Raleigh trash cans have big savings

News & Observer:  RALEIGH — The sleek new trash cans downtown aren’t just keeping garbage from blowing down the street – they’re also saving the city money and encouraging recycling, according to a report released Tuesday.

Last year, Raleigh installed 37 “Big Belly” solar trash compactors on Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South, using a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Each receptacle harnesses solar power to compress the garbage, allowing for less frequent pick-ups. The devices also alert sanitation crews by email when they fill up.

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