Tribeca Is Test Site for Robo Trash Can

 by Barry Owens


The city's only solar powered and self-compacting trash can sat last month on the corner of Church and Chambers streets. The can, a prototype being tested by the Sanitation Department, not only holds up to 450 gallons of waste, it also beeps and flashes a red light when it's ready for a pickup.

A woman gives the can a try. Its mouth is narrow to prevent the dumping of household waste. Photo: Carl Glassman

But on this recent afternoon, the so-called "Big Belly" drew more second looks than litter.

"Beautiful. Wow, beautiful," said George Maertens of Washington Heights, who was in Tribeca to visit his lawyer but made a special trip to the corner to see the can he had heard about. "It's a good idea," he said, giving the receptacle a loving pat. "Not too big, but big enough."

The city first tested the prototype, made by Seahorse Power Co., for three days in Chinatown before moving it to Tribeca early last month. A Sanitation Department spokeswoman said it will remain there indefinitely.

The can, which looks more like a mailbox than a garbage receptacle, created some confusion on the busy corner.

"It doesn't talk? I thought it was supposed to talk," said one man who stopped by for a look.

"Hmmm," said another passerby, circling the can several times before rendering his verdict. "Interesting, but it has kind of a big footprint. That might hurt pedestrian flow."

"It doesn't look like a garbage can," said Mary Joe Chime, who works in the neighborhood. "But at least it is green."

Michael Bimonte, first deputy commissioner of operations at the Sanitation Department, said the "Big Belly" was being considered for Business

Improvement Districts in Manhattan. But first the $4,500 can will have to prove itself.

"Seems to be working," said Alex Perera, a salesman with Seahorse who "just happened to be in the neighborhood" as a Trib reporter watched over the course of an hour the can being fed a coffee cup, a gum wrapper, a flyer, a paper bag and the financial section of a newspaper.

Designed to be environmentally friendly, the can's compactor and signal device is powered by solar panel's on its top and Perera said that the "Big Belly" can reduce the amount of diesel fumes in the air by preventing unnecessary truck trips.

The solar powered "Big Belly" trash can drew double-takes on Church Street last month
City sanitation worker Anthony Procopio removes and empties the double containers of the "Big Belly." A blinking red light on the machine indicates that it is full. Photo: Carl Glassman

He is hopeful that a successful run in New York will lead to the "Big Belly" appearing on street corners in cities nationwide.

"If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere," he said.

At least one New Yorker, who stopped to give the can a good once over, was skeptical.

"I hope it survives, but we'll see," he said. "Things with this kind of technology don't tend to stand up to normal New York City conditions."