Richmond is set to enter the third phase of a project to swap out old public trash-receptacles with versions that have solar-powered compactors and feature technology that enables them to be monitored remotely by city workers, who are alerted when they reach capacity.
The city says the modern Bigbelly receptacles have nearly cut in half the number of times they need to be serviced when compared to previous bins. Before their installation, there was an estimated four collections per month per bin. Now the average is 2.13 collections per month per bin, city staff said.
The first phase launched in 2017 with Waxie Sanitary Supply supplying 51 Bigbelly double kiosks, with one unit for recycling and the second unit for trash, in select Richmond parks, along the Greenway, and downtown next to the BART station, city staff said.
The second phase began in 2019 after the city received a $273,621 disbursement from RecycleMore. Forty trash and recycling double kiosks were installed downtown and along the 23rd Street corridor, the city said.
The city now aims to expand its contract with Waxie Sanitary Supply to enter phase three by $303,275, which would install an additional 45 double kiosks on the Macdonald Avenue corridor and a few parks. The funds are set to be provided by the Republic Services Franchise Fee, should Richmond City Council approve the purchase at its next meeting Tuesday.
“Each trash and recycling unit is a 50-gallon receptacle with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a sensor to detect when the bin is at capacity,” city officials said. “The CLEAN software system constantly monitors and reports the units’ locations and maintenance alerts, track usage, and whether a unit needs to be serviced. The compacting receptacles’ have a maximum capacity of 150 gallons.”
