Try out the new solar-powered garbage and recycling bins

The University of Victoria in conjunction with Waste Management of Canada is installing two Big Belly solar trash compactor bins and two Smart Belly recycling bins (for bottles and cans) on campus on a 90-day trial basis. The bins will be located near the UVic Bookstore and the University Fountain.

Big Belly bins use state-of-the-art waste and recycling collection technology that compacts the garbage, giving each bin a capacity five times greater than a regular garbage can. The bins are software-controlled and send out a text message when they are full. Since the garbage is compacted, bins need to be emptied less often, which in turn reduces collection costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Big Belly bins have already been installed by the City of Victoria and at Camosun College. Many other universities such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, McGill and the University of Pennsylvania also use this solar-powered waste management system. The goal of the 90-day trial is to test out the bins for the UVic campus and to determine if recycling rates increase at the two bin locations.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact the Waste Reduction Coordinator at wastenot@uvic.ca.