One such use is already becoming increasingly common in cities across America - the Big Belly solar powered trash compactor, which is billed as a way to help save fuel and the spillage that traditional trash receptacles can be prone to.
According to the company's website, the Big Belly trash compactor can hold up to five times the volume of traditional receptacles, or about 150 gallons of trash. The units are also said to derive 100 percent of their energy from the sun and require less than five watt hours per day. The company notes that its latest model is 200 pounds smaller than previous ones.
A recent report in California's Stockton Record newspaper says that the nearby city of Lodi expects its own recent investment in Big Belly trash receptacles to pay for itself in less than three years, due to fewer trips for trash pickup and other factors.
By compacting the trash, these receptacles can also help reduce the strain on nearby landfills.
