Mayor Cherelle Parker’s clean and green initiative includes the purchase of 1,500 Bigbelly trash units and installing them along neighborhood commercial corridors and other high-traffic areas.
Another 500 Bigbelly units have recently been replaced in Center City.
The city Department of Sanitation and the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives are working with district councilmembers to identify the best locations.
Last week, Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs Shipman and Office of Clean and Green Initiatives Director Carlton Williams joined Councilman Brian O’Neill on the 9900 block of Frankford Ave. as Department of Streets personnel installed the first units in the 10th district.
The cans are attached, one for trash and the other for recycling. While the recycling can has an opening for deposits, the trash can has a foot pedal for hands-free use. The words, “A Safer, Cleaner, Greener Philadelphia,” are printed on the units.
O’Neill noted that Parker hates to hear people refer to the city as “Filthadelphia,” adding that he’s happy the often-overlooked Northeast is not being left out of clean and green efforts.
“We’re not getting overlooked in the Parker administration,” he said.
The trash can includes a sensor that compacts the trash and alerts the sanitation department when the can is at 60 percent and 80 percent capacity and when it’s full.
“It compacts five times as much waste as a wire basket would,” Shipman said.
“The compaction feature is unbelievable,” O’Neill said. “It’s a smart trash can.”
The recycling can also has a sensor that alerts the sanitation department if it is full.
The sanitation department distributes flyers door to door in areas where the units are placed, explaining how they work.
Williams said the units have a 10-year lifespan. He likes them because they are bigger than wire baskets and have no overflow, they compact trash and help keep city streets clean.
“The Bigbellys,” he said, “play a big role in that.” ••
