BigBelly has announced it designed the world’s first and only onsite trash compactor.

 

The compactor was modeled in SolidWorks 3D CAD software and uses solar power to compress garbage and convert it into receptacles.

 

With this, garbage can be piled five times the normal storage area and garbage trucks will make less trips and save fuel and workload as well as carbon emissions.  

 

According to BigBelly Solar product manager, Jeff Satwicz, the object for such a model is the escalating steel prices. With the help of SolidWorks' sheet metal features and COSMOSXpress load analysis methods, they modeled a machine that reduced the amount of steel used by thirty percent.

 

The power consumption of the BigBelly’s unit is very small and it can operate even on a cloudy day. Energy required to toast a slice of bread can run the unit for a day and energy required to drive a garbage truck for a mile can run it for eight years. These factors corresponded with BigBelly’s eco (News - Alert)-friendly philosophy.

 

BigBelly Solar recently unveiled recycling units that connect to BigBelly or can stand alone, for customers who want to extend their environmentally friendly waste solutions. Designed in SolidWorks, the BigBelly Recycling Unit looks similar to BigBelly, but offers an insertion hole for cans and bottles, mixed paper or both.

 

“The 'green' movement's success is measured in increments”, said SolidWorks CEO Jeff Ray. “BigBelly is a great example of innovation in the face of a global problem. Its rapid adoption across the U.S. and in foreign countries demonstrates that we can find ways to reduce our impact on the environment - in this case, one BigBelly at a time.”