Four solar trash cans were installed on Quinnipiac’s Mount Carmel campus over the summer to further the university’s sustainability efforts, according to Keith Woodward, associate vice president for facilities operations.
While describing how they work, Woodward said the cans operate as mini-trash compactors and are powered by the sun. When the compactor is full, it sends a message to a website that the machine is full and facilities empties it. Woodward estimates the new system will reduce collection frequency by up to 50 percent.
The benefits of this, Woodward said, is freeing up resources, reducing fuel costs and increasing productivity. All items that would normally go in the trash can be disposed of in these cans.
There is the potential for more to be added once their use and effectiveness are evaluated at the end of the school year, Woodward said.
