City Unveils Big Belly Solar Compactors

It might be welcome news for Newport residents that there will soon be fewer waste management trucks on the roads at no cost to taxpayers. At an unveiling ceremony on Friday morning, Mayor Stephen C. Waluk announced what he referred to as a “great partnership” between Waste Management Inc., the City of Newport and Big Belly Solar, a provider of trash compactors that are 100 percent solar-powered and self sustained.

"This is an example of innovation that will benefit our residents and our environment without any additional cost to the City," Waluk said.

He said he believes Newport residents will benefit in three ways: reduced odor, fewer trucks on the road and a reduction of traffic issues.

Waste Management Inc., a privately contracted firm that is responsible for the city’s trash collection, has purchased the compactors from Big Belly, which cost approximately $3,500 a unit.

Jim Nocella, Public Sector Services Manager for Waste Management said the new compactors will cut the downtown collection requirements by half, providing a cost savings that enabled them to purchase the units.

In return, the city has renewed the contract with Waste Management for two years.

Currently there are 250 receptacles throughout Newport which are collected twice daily. Twenty-five Big Belly compactors will replace 50 of the black metal barrels.

Nocella said they will monitor the operational expenses of the compactors, and if they can determine there is a net savings for Waste Management, they will continue to replace the traditional receptacles.

Rick Gaudette, a Big Belly spokesman, said he was confident they would see that savings, which has been verified with over 300 Return on Investment (ROI) studies, including a Babson College MBA project that verified cost and energy savings for the city of Boston.

Connected to wireless routers, Waste Management will be able to monitor the compactors remotely, and only send out trucks when they are full. 

"The Big Belly launch in Newport is a triumph in our mission to be a greener city,” said Waluk. 

The compactors will be placed in front of Newport City Hall, Washington Square & Eisenhower Park, and continue down the length of Thames Street, almost reaching the intersection at Wellington Avenue.