A Greener RIOC: Introducing the BigBelly

UPDATED 12 Noon

Starting today, July 3, 2008 the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation begins a new eco-friendly initiative with its introduction of the BigBelly outside the local subway train station. The main BigBelly unit is apparently solar powered and can compact trash at a capacity of 4x-5x that of a normal trash receptacle. The recycler does not compact the botles and cans deposited.

The unit installed today (see top picture provided by Dick Lutz of the Main Street WIRE) is a demo unit and if successful would be replaced by the newer units pictured in the picture immediately above the text. A second unit was also received which will be installed at Southpoint to help with the garbage collection during this year's Fourth of July festivities.

According to Sylvia Giralde, RIOC’s Compliance Officer, the “initiative is not meant to replace the recycling bins in the residential buildings but as an addition to the Island for visitors, commuters, and residents walking about the Island.” The pilot program, which includes installing the dual trash compactor and recycler, is according to Ms. Giralde, “just one of the eco-friendly initiatives RIOC is undertaking”.

In announcing the program Ms. Giralde continued by stating that “This initiative reduces the amount of trash collection frequency, which in turn reduces emissions of pollutants into the air, lowers cost all around, and provides for a 'greener' island.”

According to Dick Lutz the units cost $4000 a piece. No confirmation as of yet from Ms. Giralde on that amount. Residents may recall that RIOC spent a reported $80,000 on 40 specially designed "tram themed" trash receptacles that are currently placed across the island. The BigBelly unit would appear to contribute to its cost by reducing the number of trash pick-up required per unit.

For disclosure purposes I added the RIOC logos and Big Belly Text to the newer BigBelly units pictured above. For more info about the units I believe you can link HERE to the manufacturer’s website. According to the technician that installed the demo model the units need about 2 hours of sunlight per day to operate.

According to the website such units are currently installed in Queens within the Steinway Street and Jamaica Center Business Improvement Districts. Testimonials and case study information can be found HERE.

Tell the Daily News $400 / Garbage Can Is a Bargain

Yesterday’s NY Daily News (9/16/2007) editorial bemoaned the fact that the City is now buying $400 trash receptacles which they feel are quite overpriced. The editorial also discusses how local politicians are using them as politically funded campaign announcements.

I am sure Roosevelt Island residents will feel some sympathy as the overpriced argument rings a bell when a prior RIOC administration switched from the old trash receptacles to the new red ones which I recall were at a reported cost of $800 per unit. Perhaps the Daily News should be informed that the City got a bargain. Don’t get me wrong the new red receptacles are attractive as such cans go and we all like the Tram logo but the cost was apparently substantial.

The crazy thing is where our state tax dollars paid for the RIOC Reds now our NYC tax dollars are contributing to these new City trash cans. What a waste…again.

Update 3:00 pm
After an extensive search through old on-line issues of the WIRE, I found a reference, within the RIRA column by then President Steve Marcus, in the January 14, 2006 issue regarding the Red trash receptacles. Guess what they were not purchased at $800 per receptacle but at $2,000 per can. And at 40 cans that added up to over $80,000.00.

[Note: The red can pics were taken from Flickr and I have not properly credited the photogs. I will try to do so later today.]