Pasadena Goes Belly Up

Pasadena isn't called the Green City for no reason. In 2007, the City of Pasadena undertook what only a handful of cities in the nation have only now started to do nowadays: go green with a purpose. See, many cities view the green movement as a marketing ploy, using it more to advertise the city to potential renters, buyers and businesses, rather than actually taking the steps to make a city cleaner. This month, Pasadena's City Council authorized the purchase of 40 more Big Belly Solar Trash Compactor, at a cost not to exceed 146,550. 

However, it was back in 2007 that Pasadena began participating with Big Belly Compactors by renting out four for a six-month test period. It was spearheaded by Pasadena's then-environmental team, along with Pasadena Public Works Director Martin Pastucha. With much success, the city more recently bought an additional six compactors, and placed them in high traffic areas.  

 

According to the City Council's Agenda Report, "The compactor takes up as much space as an ordinary bin, but has a capacity five times greater than a normal trash bin. The compactor can compact up to 200 gallons of trash into one neat bag that weighs 40 to 60 pounds."
 

Another perk? The 540-pound compactors are said to reduce the number of collection trips from five times a week for regular trash bins to once per week - helping to trim fuel usage and greenhouse gases emissions. Pasadena's city website further posits that the Big Belly Compactor "has a battery reserve that lasts two to three weeks without sunlight, a waste capacity of more than 45 gallons and a sensor that sends a signal whenever compaction needs to take place." 


Often, I've seen Pasadena at the forefront of environmental initiatives. A while back, I wrote about their integration of CFL bulbs, even offering free CFLs to Pasadena residents as an initiative. I know, I still haven't used the FREE 35 or so bulbs (of varying size and watt) stored in my cupboard. I saw this on on Lake Avenue while getting a Starbucks. It really stood out and probably wasn't more than four feet high. 

Photos by Sarah McClure.