Solar-powered, high-tech garbage cans are to be installed on the lakeshore in Chicago, which the city hopes will help reduce the amount of garbage that collects on the beaches in summertime.
"The 'BigBelly' devices-already in use in a handful of cities including New York and Boston-use solar panels to recharge a 12-volt battery powering the compactor's electrical motor. The metal containers, resembling deposit bins for library books, also will save energy by requiring fewer trash pickups."
"BigBelly containers have done well in a downtown test run, requiring only one-fourth of the pickups of normal trash bins, city officials said."
"The compactors can hold four to five times more garbage than the regular 95-gallon bins currently used, district officials said. When trash levels reach a certain level, an optical beam is broken, and the container compacts the trash, making space for more garbage. Lights outside the container indicate if the device is full, compacting or ready to take more garbage."
FULL STORY: 'Trash eaters' will clean city beaches

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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