The city of Atlanta on Nov. 28 launched its new Bigbelly recycling program, which will transform a core city service by embracing smart technology for waste and recycling collections. The new program places smart, double-station waste and recycling bins in 160 locations in downtown Atlanta, the Westside and Little Five Points neighborhood, which help keep communities clean, advance environmental goals and support smart city efforts.
Atlanta will now join the ranks of other leading cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Dublin and London that use Bigbelly’s smart waste system.
Bigbelly units are solar-powered and compact waste to hold five times as much waste as a traditional trash bin. Through smart sensors, the units communicate to a centralized dashboard to alert crews when stations are ready for waste and recycling collection. The program has been financed through an innovative public-private partnership. Green City Solutions, LLC Green City has subsidized the majority of the capital investment through the sale of advertising on the units. As part of the City’s agreement with Green City, artwork from local artists and public service messages will be displayed on the front sides of some Bigbelly units.
“The City of Atlanta is a vibrant, progressive community with a commitment to making their spaces cleaner and more enjoyable,” said Brian Phillips, CEO of Bigbelly. “We welcome Atlanta to the ranks of other metropolitan cities transforming public space waste and recycling with Bigbelly. The city’s adoption leads to an enhanced urban environment that is cleaner, greener and more connected for the community.
The City of Atlanta plans to expand the Bigbelly program to more neighborhoods over the next year.
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