Rogers Park goes green for earth day

Commercial areas get four new solar powered compaction systems to educate about green technology and eliminate unsightly overflowing trash bins

Residents, business owners and commuters on Howard Street and Morse Avenue will soon notice what looks like a grey mailbox with a solar panel near the El stations.  What they won’t notice is piles of garbage in overflowing traditional trash bins. The Clark/Morse/ Glenwood and Howard Street Special Service Areas, managed by DevCorp North, recently purchased four Big Belly solar compaction systems from the Seahorse Power Company of Massachusetts.  The compaction allows the Big Belly to eat up four times as much trash as an average garbage bin, significantly reducing the number of collections needed while keeping trash hidden and contained.

Besides aesthetic and collection improvements, the Big Belly is also the only garbage can that is intended to teach something.  The highly visible solar panels on top of the unit completely power all the mechanics without any external power source.  But while the panels are powering the compactor, it’s also hoped that their placement around the CTA stations with large volumes of foot traffic will create sparks in the minds of passerbys about the role of green technology in our lives.  Special ad mounts will provide space to talk about the virtues of solar power to audiences who may not otherwise know much about them.  In future, this space will address things everyone can do to green their homes.

Special service area managers in Rogers Park were impressed by the satisfaction of mayors and streets and sanitation directors on the East coast in terms of productivity improvements and beautification.  They decided to team up with three special service areas in the West Ridge, Lincoln Park and South Shore neighborhoods, who also saw the potential impact of Big Belly, to get a cost break.  The compaction systems are being delivered to each neighborhood in the week leading up to Earth Day celebrations on April 12th.

The Mayor's office and the Department of Street and Sanitation purchased 50 Big Bellys to be placed along Michigan Avenue and in Millenium Park.  The Department of Planning and Development is encouraging economic development agencies throughout the city to implement this program.  The 49th Ward Street and Sanitation Superintendent Mike Erickson is committed to servicing the four Big Bellys.