Downtown Debuts Solar-Powered Compactor

By Jen ThomasiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS - Main Street visitors may have noticed the solar-powered trash compactor that suddenly appeared downtown this week but most probably don't know where it came from or how it works.

Donated by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the compactor - a simple black machine about the size of a mailbox - is a product of Needham-based BigBelly Solar, who specializes in manufacturing the world's only solar-powered cordless compaction system.

Emily Dahl, a public information officer at MTC, said the state agency offered more than a dozen free compactors to municipalities throughout the state who expressed an interest in trying them out.

"They can be used to familiarize the public with how renewable energy, especially solar, can be used," said Dahl.

The compactor, the only one donated to a community in Berkshire County through this pilot program, holds up to five times the volume of ordinary trash receptacles and up to 150 gallons of trash, according to information provided by BigBelly. A solar panel on the compactor’s top powers the machine 100 percent, even without direct sunlight.

There are hundreds of compactors throughout the country, on campuses, in parks and at beaches, on city streets and at Fenway Park. With over 40 distributors nationwide, BigBelly can help significantly cut down on greenhouse gas emissions because fewer trips need to be made to dispose of the waste inside.

The Bigbelly reduces waste collection frequency, lowers costs and can pay for itself in as little as 1.5 years.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Federal Cuts Include North Adams Culvert Project

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Trump administration's cut $90 million in disaster prevention aid for the state including a culvert project on Galvin Road.
 
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program was providing funding to 18 communities, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. 
 
Engineering for the Galvin Road culvert was one of only two Berkshire projects being funded. The other was $81,720 to Hinsdale to power a public safety building.
 
The two largest disbursements were $50 million to Chelsea and Everett for flood resilience that was approved during Trump's first term, and $12 million to DCR for a waterfront project in Boston. 
 
Many of these endeavors have been years in the making and the funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has already been appropriated. 
 
The governor's office said cities and towns have moved forward with expensive permitting applications and engineering and design plans because of FEMA's identification of their project as a future recipient of federal BRIC funds. 

"In recent years, Massachusetts communities have been devastated by severe storms, flooding and wildfires. We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather," said Gov. Maura Healey.

"But the Trump administration has suddenly ripped the rug out from under cities and towns that had been promised funding to help them upgrade their roads, bridges, buildings and green spaces to mitigate risk and prevent disasters in the future. This makes our communities less safe and will increase costs for residents, municipalities and businesses."

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal noted the difficult flooding and wildfires the state has had to deal and said the funds would have provided assistance to at-risk communities. 

"The BRIC program was established by Congress in 2018, during the first Trump administration, to reduce the hazard risk of communities confronting natural disasters," said the congressman.
 
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