Solar-powered waste compacting bin

{{Short description|Solar-powered waste compactor: A sustainable solution for litter management in public places}}

A solar-powered waste compactor is a smart device that reads a waste bin's fill-level in real-time and triggers an automatic compaction of the waste, effectively increasing the bin's capacity by up to 5-8 times.{{Cite web|url=http://newatlas.com/bigbelly-wi-fi-hotspot-solar-powered-recycling-garbage-bins/38561/|title=Bigbelly's Wi-Fi-enabled, solar-powered bins could lead to smarter cities|website=newatlas.com|date=22 July 2015 |access-date=2016-08-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jun/14/internet-of-bins-smart-solar-powered-trashcans-in-colombian-cities|title=Internet of bins: smart, solar powered trashcans in Colombian cities|last=Ramirez|first=Elaine|date=2016-06-14|website=the Guardian|access-date=2016-08-01}} The compaction mechanism runs on a battery, which is charged by the solar panel. Fully charged, the battery reserve lasts for approximately 3–4 weeks, depending on the compaction frequency and usage patterns.{{Cite web|url=http://ecubelabs.com/support/|title=Ecube Labs - FAQ|last=Labs|first=Ecube|website=ecubelabs.com|access-date=2016-08-01}}

Solar-powered waste compactors are typically connected to a remote software platform through wireless 2G/3G networks. The platform enables waste collection managers to access real-time data analytics and route optimization.

Solar-powered compactors are primarily used in high foot traffic areas such as town centers, shopping malls, amusement parks, beaches, transit stations and sports stadiums.