councils - government - mining - facilities - stadiums - universities - parks EDITION #001 ▪ APRIL 2012
INTELLIGENT
WASTE APRIL LAUNCH ISSUE
THE RACE TO BECOME THE GREENEST CITY COUNCIL PAGE 22
THE ARRIVAL OF THE BIGBELLY® 4
+ CLEANING UP PAGE 04
AUSTRALIA PAGE 25
JIM POSS THE INTERVIEW
HOW THIS PROMISING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR IS LEADING THE WASTE CHALLENGE
PAGE 12 The bimonthly intelligent waste magazine for industry professionals
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WELCOME & CONTENTS APRIL 2012
cover story
08
Jim Poss - The interview
events
10 11
April’s events May and June’s events
all about apps
12
Check out these great apps to keep you inspired
features
04 22 25
The arrival of the BB4
08
April overview
Balancing budgets whilst meeting waste goals Cleaning up our own backyard
news 26
waste matters case study 10 11
Education: Georgetown University Stadiums: Boston Red Sox
In the news this issue
“THIS YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 591, 400 VOLUNTEERS REMOVED A STAGGERING 16,199 TONNES OF RUBBISH FROM 7,363 CLEAN UP SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.”
MESSAGE FROM
THE EDITOR
EDITOR: Leon Hayes
EMAIL: leon@intelligentwaste.com.au
BLOG: www.intelligentwaste.com.au
Welcome to our launch issue of Intelligent Waste Magazine. As this is our launch issue we have tried to ensure we have provided a base from which we can grow this magazine while ensuring it is packed full of waste management information, case studies and solutions. We will begin by producing as bimonthly issue of the magazine
with the option of releasing special editions along the way. We will focus of becoming one of Australia’s leading waste management publications. This month I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jim Poss, an innovator, social challenger, author,
inventor, entrepreneur and above all, genuine good bloke. Fresh from a whirlwind tour of Australia where Jim met hundreds of industry professionals, I sat down with Jim to get his views on the Australian Carbon Tax, BigBelly’s entrance to the Australian market, The Waste Levy and how he
built his environmentally conscious business, BigBelly Solar Inc. Enjoy the read, and we look forward to hearing your feedback, either by way of email of a comment on our fb or twitter pages.
Leon Hayes, Editor
Intelligent
magazine contact
Published by Solar Bins Australia Pty Ltd, 182 Robertson Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
magazine team
advertising
EDITOR: Leon Hayes
Digital media packs available on request.
HEAD OF DESIGN: Marian Doyle
contributors Chris Wales Samantha Pinchin BigBelly Solar Inc Solar Bins Australia
distribution Intelligent Waste magazine is produced bimonthly. To subscribe please enter your contact details on www.solarbins.com.au or www.intelligentwaste.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER: Leon Hayes t. 1300 893 610 e. leon@intelligentwaste.com.au (AUS) 6-issue subscription $97.00
FEATURE THE ARRIVAL
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THE ARRIVAL OF THE
BIGBELLY® 4
THE BIGBELLY® 4 HAS ARRIVED ON AUSTRALIAN SHORES. JUST LOOK WHAT’S IN STORE FOR US.
With it’s sleek, contemporary lines and it’s you could be forgiven for thinking this is a new piece of street art. But this is more than just a piece of art. This is more than just a rubbish bin. The BigBelly® 4 has taken intelligent waste to a whole other level...
FEATURE THE ARRIVAL
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THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN AUSTRALIA TO PILOT THE BB4 IN YOUR WASTE NETWORK. GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT WWW.SOLARBINS.COM.AU “The eagle has landed”. These were some of the first words uttered by Neil Armstrong after the Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon in 1969. 43 years later, these words are taking on a whole new meaning, as the BigBelly 4 lands on Australian shores, giving waste managers and eagle eye view of their waste systems and waste management infrastructure. The world’s first waste & recycling collection systems company that integrates renewable energy and information technology to dramatically lower the operating costs, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the waste collection process, has signed a distributor agreement with 100% Australian owned and operated Solar Bins Australia, to deliver intelligent waste systems to Australian councils, facility managers, parks and organisations. As Australian cities grow, councils are struggling under a serious waste burden, between 10 – 30 tonnes of rubbish a day, with collections of up to 3 times a day are been experienced in Australian capital cities. And this is only set to grow. Like most forms of technology there are always advancements which are developed by inventors over time. Compaction is an age old technology. Solar Power has been around since 1941, when Russell Ohl invented the solar cell. What is remarkable is that Jim Poss an American entrepreneur was able to match both of these technologies to develop a solution of the World’s first Solar Powered Compaction Station.
Whilst the BigBelly is a mixture of old and new technology at its heart is a commercial grade compactor. It works by using a laser to monitor the rubbish levels, and when the laser is triggered the compaction begins. The compaction is powered by a solar power panel on the top of the station. The station is not connected to the electricity grid and runs of a motherboard, basic controls, a computer chip, a 12v battery and a commercial grade sim card, enabling waste managers to track the state of their waste systems remotely. This fundamentally changes waste monitoring. Location of stations, level of rubbish in the station, the general state of the station, even if the door is open or closed can be monitor via the web based solution. The integrated energy management and monitoring software enables the solar-powered stations to work reliably in all seasons and climates, which is well suited for the varied latitudes and environmental conditions found across Australia, while also providing real-time visibility and transparency into waste & recycling operations. It is this real-time visibility and transparency where the BigBelly really lands in a field of its own. The technology, called CLEAN ™ Management Console, uses visualisation tools and reports to provide waste managers with insights into their waste patterns, ensuring more efficient management and audits. With the arrival, Solar Bins Australia has already signed a growing number of prominent Councils and Mining companies to pilot programs, ensuring the foot print of the BigBelly is secured and growing.
‘‘IT IS THIS REALTIME VISIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WHERE THE BIGBELLY REALLY LANDS IN A FIELD OF ITS OWN.”
FEATURE THE ARRIVAL
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COMING TO
A STREET NEAR YOU RELIABLE PERFORMANCE
WASTE SOLUTIONS “Based on current interest we aim to have 1,000 solar-powered waste & recycling stations deployed across Australia by 2014. We will be looking into the opportunity of distribution partners that will provide sales and service in the region, although our initial aim is to ensure our clear message of intelligent waste is delivered.” With over 13,000 stations deployed across America, Europe, Asia and Australia, waste managers across the world are eliminating the need for weekend and holiday collections, eliminating litter, reducing the cost of fuel and labor, and reducing CO2 emissions. With rising fuels costs, increasing concern about carbon emissions and climate change, and the need for new and innovative approaches to maximise resource efficiency in difficult budgetary times, the BigBelly system is ideally suited to the challenges facing Australian customers. Designed for reliable performance 24/7/365 in all climates and latitudes, the BigBelly solar compactor and BigBelly compacting recycler are powered by sophisticated and patented software that allows each BigBelly compactor to run for one week on the equivalent energy of brewing one pot
The BigBelly is designed for reliable performance in all climates and latitudes.
of coffee. The waste & recycling stations within the BigBelly Solar system are CE and RoHS compliant and have already been tested in some of Australia’s harshest and remote environments. So is this technology expensive? “Based on previous case studies across the USA and Europe, we expect our customers to gain a full ROI in as little as three years; however we expect the cost and environmental savings to be exercised right from the start of any pilot program.” We are excited at the prospect of working with Australian customers and we look forward to the opportunity of discussing with you in the very near future” said Leon Hayes, Executive General Manager of Solar Bins Australia. “Australian cities are on the verge of been able to enjoy the benefits of the BigBelly system and we look forward to introducing the benefits of our system to a growing number of customers.”
FEATURE THE ARRIVAL
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“BASED ON CURRENT INTEREST WE AIM TO HAVE 1,000 SOLARPOWERED WASTE AND RECYCLING STATIONS DEPLOYED ACROSS AUSTRALIA BY 2014.”
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WASTE MATTERS A GROWING CONCERN
IN 2006-2007 AUSTRALIANS GENERATED APPROXIMATELY 43.8 MILLION TONNES OF WASTE POLLUTION Australia has about 0.3% of the world’s population, but contributes about 1.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
This puts Australians among the highest per capita emitters .
In 2007, Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors totalled 597.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e) under the accounting provisions of the Kyoto Protocol
“GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL, HUMANS ARE VERY LIKELY TO BE CAUSING IT, AND …IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEM IN THE CENTURIES TO COME LARGER THAN THOSE SEEN IN THE RECENT PAST”. CSIRO AND BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY, 2007. WE CAN HELP
LET’S TACKLE
CONTACT US TODAY AND WE WILL HELP YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WWW.SOLARBINS.COM.AU
THIS TOGETHER
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OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE HOW CAN THIS TOTAL VOLUME OF WASTE CONTINUE??? GENERATED IN AUSTRALIA HAS NEARLY DOUBLED
TAKE ACTION TOTAL WASTE GENERATED BY AUSTRALIANS GREENHOUSE GASES Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to mitigate human-induced climate change.
Australia has a strong dependence on landfill for waste management. Between 2001 and 2007, the volume of waste deposited into landfill increased markedly. In 2001, 19 million tonnes of waste were disposed to landfill, and by 2007 this figure had grown to 21.3 million tonnes (a 12% increase)
Recycling of waste materials reduces the volume of waste disposed in landfills.
LANDFILL
POPULATION While Australia only accounts for around 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its per capita (per person) CO2 emissions are nearly twice the OECD average and more than four times the world average
POPULATION Population size is a strong determinant of the volume of waste produced in Australia. In 2006-07, the states with the largest populations contributed most of the
A BETTER WORLD FOR TODAY
country’s waste: New South Wales (35%), Victoria (23%), and Queens land (18%). Source: ABS, 2009, Environmental Issues: Waste Management and Transport Use March 2009 Source: Hyder, Waste and Recycling in Australia Report 2009
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CASE STUDY Georgetown University With more than 15,000 students, faculty and staff in the Georgtown Community, this urban campus hosts a lot of foot traffic. Over the years, Georgetown battled with waste issues, increasing receptacles and collection frequency to ensure the historic campus stayed beautiful. By 2009, staff were emptying 110 trash cans 7 times per week – sometimes even more on warm, sunny days when everyone wanted to be outside. Even with staff diligently collecting these bins, the same issues continued to occur. “The traditional open lid trash can is inviting for rodents, and waste overflow can occur easily in our high foot traffic areas on campus,” observes Bill del Vecchio, Recycling Diretor at Georgetown University. “Additionally, they only hold 35 gallons of waste. Therfore, we needed to figure out a way to reduce staff bandwidth focused on waste collection, and provide a solution to reduce litter on the ground and animal infestation.”
A Shining Light Georgetown found the solution in the BigBelly® solar compaction system. By automatically compacting trash at the point of collection,each BigBelly unit holds up to 200 gallons in its 32-gallon bin, while also providing an interactive recycling station for the community. The increased capacity of the system reduces collection demand, while the enclosed design keeps trash contained and animals out. “We chose 60 of our most troublesome waste receptacles and replaced them with 20 BigBelly Solar Waste & Recycling Ki-
osks,” says del Vecchio. “The results have been nothing short of incredible, with waste collection being reduced from seven times per week to two.”
Recycling Awareness In addition to reducing the frequency of waste collection, Georgetown University implemented a strategic recycling program with bottle/can and paper deposit locations attached to each BigBelly on campus, with a combined capacity of 2,000 gallons. “It was important to us that the BigBelly units on our campus had attached Recycling stations, as we want to be a leader not only in adopting clean technology, but also creating awareness & changing behavior on participation in recycling efforts,” states del Vecchio. “It is our hope that the community will interact with these units every day, and we will be able to increase knowledge on the importance of recycling, not just at home, but in their daily activities.” “The fact this unit is powered by solar and is keeping the campus cleaner is a point of pride for our university,” says del Vecchio. “We are thrilled to also be the first University to have the Wireless Monitoring System on our BigBelly units. The wireless technology will allow us to monitor real-time waste levels on campus, so we will be able to solve any waste issue before it becomes a problem.” Del Vecchio concludes, “It is only fitting that we have a waste and recycling solution that is as forward thinking and educational as Georgetown University itself.”
CASE STUDY Boston Red Sox Boston’s historic Fenway Park – the oldest ballpark in the league – hasn’t changed much over the years. The Green Monster still looms over left field, surpassed slightly in height by the neon Citgo sign that has illuminated Boston’s skyline since 1940. But Fenway Park has changed in some very noticeable ways. Its rafters now teem with members of Red Sox Nation, hoping to catch a glimpse of World Series greatness; the park pulsates with an energy it’s never seen before. But those sold-out crowds generate a significant amount of trash, which has been making its way into the substantial residential neighbourhood surrounding Fenway Park.
Good Neighbour Neighbourhood residents were justifiably concerned. Despite the City of Boston’s valiant efforts to keep pace with the trash, receptacles overflowed with unsightly and unhealthy garbage. Residents, public works officials and Red Sox management met and agreed that simply putting out more trash barrels would increase labor, truck and fuel costs associated with added collections trips. The City offered a solution: a public-private partnership to deploy more of Mayor Menino’s weapon of choice in the battle to keep public spaces throughout the Boston clean and litter-free – BigBelly® Solar Compactors.
New Fans The same size as traditional waste barrels, BigBelly holds five or six times the amount of trash by compacting it on-site. Self-powered by solar energy and requiring no wiring, the super-efficient BigBelly can be deployed virtually anywhere – even in locations with no direct sunlight. The City of Boston has been steadily deploying BigBelly compactors for the last two years with the ultimate goal of utilizing them throughout the city. Fans at opening day at Fenway this year were greeted by their World Champion Red Sox and by a team of BigBelly Solar Compactors ready to make sure the neighbourhood around Fenway Park remain clean and litter-free. BigBelly was a home run, celebrated by both the Red Sox and the neighbourhood residents.
Team Effort “We have become big fans of BigBelly and are supportive of the continued deployment of BigBelly compactors into the neighbourhoods surrounding Fenway Park,” said Jonathan Gilula, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the Red Sox. “In addition to the dramatic increase in capacity provided by the units, the enclosed design keeps litter in the receptacles - not overflowing onto the streets. This is a great example of business, area residents, and the City working in concert and in everyone’s best interests.”
BE A BB4 CASESTUDY
We are looking for 5 councils to be the first in Australia to pilot the BB4 and feature in a pilot case study. Speak to us today
FEATURE JIM POSS
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A globally-recognised innovator and entrepreneur...
JIM POSS
INTERVIEW
REPORTER: Leon Hayes
EMAIL: leon@intelligentwaste.com.au
INNOVATOR, PIONEER, ENTREPRENEUR, CAMPAIGNER AND AUTHOR. The Jim Poss story reads like a motivational book for all of us. Whether we be governments, entrepreneurs, or community members. Since starting his business in 2003 he has grown it from a good idea to a necessary idea and in turn has been cleaning up our streets and removing millions of tonnes of CO2 from our atmosphere each year. Jim Poss, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of BigBelly Solar, is a globally-recognized innovator and entrepreneur. Jim founded BigBelly Solar in 2003 based on the idea of applying renewable energy to the complex and expensive process of waste collection. Over the intervening years and three product generations, BigBelly Solar is now bringing operational efficiency and environmental benefits to customers in every US state and more than 30 countries. Jim began his career in renewable energy with a Pew Foundation grant to build a wave-powered energy generator. He further developed his focus on renewable energy in technical and business roles with Spire Corporation (solar) and Solectria/Azure Dynamics (electric vehicles). Jim has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and as one of Business Week Magazine’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs. He is also an instructor in environmental entrepreneurship at Babson College’s MBA program. Jim received his MBA from Babson College with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and dual undergraduate bachelor degrees in Geology and Environmental Science & Policy from Duke University. I caught up with Jim after his whirlwind tour of Australia in November 2011. Firstly, what exactly is BigBelly and how does it work? BigBelly is part of a system that reduces cost and fuel associated with waste collection. The BigBelly is a solar-powered waste compactor which compresses waste automatically, to a fraction of its original volume. It communicates to a web-based scheduling and monitoring “command center” which makes it easy for clients to see how to reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary truck travel, and recycle more effectively. Other parts of the system include various recycling and waste receptacles of different capacities. All of these parts are “nodes in a network,” providing data and visibility – a management tool to streamline collection activities. You started your business in 2003. Starting a business is often difficult. What has been your experience and what do you see as critical keys to success for Australian entrepreneurs? Perseverance. In 2003, people doubted a solar compactor would work. I was convinced it would, but the only way to prove it was to take some risk,
spend some money, lots of time and do it. My other bit of advice is: before you get started, talk to as many potential clients as you can. This feedback will help you verify it’s a good idea, and help you create something that provides great value to a lot of people. You hold an MBA in Entrepreneurship and a dual degree in Geology and Environmental Science. How did this lead to a business in waste? The environmental studies helped me see problems in the world. I later gained some technology experience working in the field. I saw a problem in waste – a big problem – and went after it because I believed it was possible and that I could do it.
“LOCALISE... REINVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, ECONOMICALLY, SOCIALLY, INTERPERSONALLY. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KEYS. ” JIM POSS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
“I SAW A PROBLEM IN WASTE, A BIG PROBLEM & WENT AFTER IT BECAUSE I BELIEVED IT WAS POSSIBLE & THAT I COULD DO IT.” JIM POSS PIONEER AND CAMPAIGNER
CREATING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Seeking a better place for all of us to live in Jim Poss is delivering.
You were featured in Newsweek in an article about the reinvigoration of businesses and the economy in the United States. What do you believe are the keys to building a sustainable community, business and lifestyle? Localise. If communities can get local food, water and energy, it goes a loooong way to becoming sustainable, reinvesting in the community, economically, socially, interpersonally. Renewable energy is much more localized than fossil fuels, the supply chain can be domestic. So the dollars stay at home rather than go away. Driving less means fewer dollars sent abroad. We burn less fuel. Those are some of the keys. What is “clean-energy”? What is your conception of “clean-energy”? What is the uniqueness of your idea? Clean energy doesn’t emit pollutants. That’s a strict standard to which many of today’s technologies fall short. Avoidance, that is the cleanest. BigBelly is somewhat unique in that it provides the absence of something - a truck trip. That’s a bit different. It also provides a substantial net savings from operational efficiencies, whereas some technologies need subsidies to make economic sense. What is your vision for the energy industry and the future of renewable energy? The energy industry is changing now, albeit slowly, due mainly to fossil fuel consumption (and prices) rising faster than oil is pumped. Until energy prices rise, or prices are put on pollution, many technologies aren’t (yet) economically viable. Today, however, there are many economically attractive clean-or-cleaner energy products. That is the near-term future of renewable energy. Cleaner ways that are economically attractive today. How do you link the Waste Levy will influence BigBelly’s growth in Australia? I think it will be a big help, to subsidize the introduction of the technology. After it is introduced, and many of the businesses and councils see for themselves that there are savings and conveniences that come from using the BigBelly system, the subsidies will not be needed anymore. People will do it because it’s better and cheaper. But there is a barrier to adoption to anything new; the Levy will help get it started.
Australia is facing a Carbon Tax from July 1 this year. Local councils and businesses have stated increased costs for living are going to be passed on to the consumer. What are your thoughts on how Australian’s can combat the rising costs of day to day living? Across the board, I think businesses and councils and individuals could pretty painlessly reduce energy use by 10-30%, offsetting the tax. I think people will put in new light bulbs, economize their routes and schedules, install new air conditioners, etc. and the savings will exceed the tax. And if it doesn’t in the near term, it will in the long term, because energy (particularly oil) isn’t getting cheaper. What is BigBelly ambition for the Australian market? What do you think is the main challenges will be? I think Australia is a perfect place for the BigBelly. Big cities, people like to be outside, nice weather, nice people. More importantly, high costs. So the BigBelly saves even more in Australia than in the U.S., or Europe. My ambition is to really reduce costs, pollution, roadwear and traffic in Australia’s wonderful cities. Trash and trash trucks are a blight on your beautiful country. And…you would recycle if you had a convenient solution. Challenges? The same ones new technologies always face – tepid adopters. We have 13,000 units in the field in 30 countries. We have proven to cities, parks, universities and companies that our solution is better than the operation they once had. We will get there, but it’s always a challenge to get started in a new area. We approach the problems with Information Technology and distributed solar power. Our “Waste and Recycling Stations” have capacities ranging from 185L to 1100L (while retaining the size footprint of standard waste receptacles). This vastly curbs costs and fuel use by displacing truck trips. Also, our real-time and historical web-based management console enables truck trips to match demand, rather than having trucks either show up to early or too late. The result (across major cities) is a SIX-fold decrease in collection trips, costs, fuel. We’ve even seen 9:1 reductions. Our systems also create very high recycling rates.
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JIM POSS
INTERVIEW
JIM IN AUSTRALIA
On a recent visit to Australia sponsored by the US State Department, Jim introduced the BigBelly 4 to Australia
SEE PAGE 04
“CLEAN ENERGY DOESN’T EMIT POLLUTANTS. THAT’S A STRICT STANDARD TO WHICH MANY OF TODAY’S TECHNOLOGIES FALL SHORT. AVOIDANCE, THAT IS THE CLEANEST. “
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“WHEN TRAVELING AT HOME OR ABROAD, JIM ALWAYS TAKES PHOTOS OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES. SHOWN (BEHIND), AN OPPORTUNITY IN SYDNEY, PRESENTED BY ONE OF THE LARGE IBIS THAT MAKE A MESS OF OPEN RUBBISH CONTAINERS“
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FOUNDER
& CTO
BigBelly Solar is a global leader in providing sustainable waste collection solutions, with satisfied customers across the United States and 30+ other countries. The company provides customer benefits in two core areas – cost efficiency in delivering required waste collection services and development of more environmentally sustainable practices. Cost efficiencies are created by attacking unnecessary and wasted effort in the collection process. The dualpronged solution marries on-site compaction of trash with on-demand realtime and historical information about the fullness and collection status of trash bins allows for better planning, route optimization and asset management. The result is a process that is optimised to deliver comparable service levels at dramatically lower process cost by reducing unnecessary collection. This is why BigBelly Solar’s slogan is Eliminating the Waste in Waste Collection. More environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible practices result from several aspects of the BigBelly Solar intelligent waste collection system. Every eliminated unnecessary collection results in fewer gallons of fossil fuel that are burned and subsequent pounds of CO2 and other green-
house gas emissions that are sent into the air we breathe, plus valuable labor hours are conserved and devoted to other priorities. Enclosed compactors and recyclers keep litter in and pests out. Companion recyclers promote separation of waste streams that keeps recyclable items out of landfills, and in some cases customer savings have funded expanded recycling programs. Environmental sustainability permeates the entire company, with Made-in-the-USA solutions that incorporate a series of environmentally conscious features, including a significant percentage of parts made from recycled plastic, RoHS compliant electronics and optimised packaging to protect units in shipment while limiting excessive materials and facilitating optimal shipping container usage to reduce shipment costs and fuel consumption. BigBelly Solar is privileged as a company to focus on the innovative application of renewable energy and information technology to provide significant economic benefits to its customers and environmental benefits to the communities they serve.
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“IN 2009 POSS WAS NAMED ONE OF BUSINESS WEEK MAGAZINE’S MOST PROMISING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS”
BigBelly Solar is a global leader in providing sustainable waste collection solutions...
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EVENTS THIS
APRIL-JUNE
APRIL 14TH
to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.gdrc.org/
Australian Heritage Week is an annual national celebration of Australia’s unique heritage. It is an opportunity for all Australians to join together to celebrate our shared and special heritage.
APRIL 25TH
AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE WEEK
In 2012, Australian Heritage Week will run from Saturday 14 April until Sunday 22 April.
ANZAC DAY ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC,
The encourages all communities to get involved with planning and hosting a range of exciting activities during Australian Heritage Week that showcase your unique local heritage to the rest of the country.
APRIL 22ND
EARTH DAY 2012 On April 22, more than one billion people around the globe will participate in Earth Day 2012 and help Mobilize the Earth™. People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection. Together we will stand united for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part.
PRICE: FREE MORE INFORMATION: http://heritage-week.govspace.gov. au/
PRICE: FREE MORE INFORMATION: www.earthday.org/2012 with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans. In Canberra, the Memorial, in close cooperation with RSL ACT, hosts the Dawn Service and the National ANZAC Day Ceremony. PRICE: FREE
APRIL 18TH
HERITAGE DAY World Heritage is the shared wealth of humankind. Protecting and preserving this valuable asset demands the collective efforts of the international community. This special day offers an opportunity to raise the public’s awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required
featured event
MORE INFORMATION: http://www.awm.gov.au/ MAY 8TH
OZ WATER EVENT On behalf of the Australian Water Association (AWA), we invite you to be part of Australia’s most important annual event for the water industry to be held at the SYDNEY CONVEN-
TION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, DARLING HARBOUR FROM MAY 8 – 10, 2012.
Ozwater is an event like no other, organised by the industry for the industry where the issues that drive the industry are discussed and future directions decided. The Ozwater’12 Conference will feature inspirational international and national keynote speakers, numerous invited speakers, scientific and technical papers, case studies, workshops and poster sessions. This will be an opportunity like no other to network and engage with industry leaders and experts from all over Australia. PRICE: TRADE EXHIBIT FREE
MORE INFORMATION: http://www.ozwater.org/ MAY 22ND
INT. BIODIVERSITY DAY The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase
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understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.cbd.int/idb/
JUNE 5TH
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY World Environment Day celebrates its 12th Anniversary on Tuesday 5th June 2012. Each year, in support of UNEP World Environment Day (June 5), the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) recognises innovative and outstanding environmental programs and initiatives from across Australia and the important work of Australian environmental leaders through its World Environment Day Awards program. The annual national World Environment Day Awards program invites nominations from individuals, organisations, businesses, local councils, schools, journalists and community groups whose work serves to protect, manage or restore our natural heritage. The preeminent national awards program plays an important role in raising awareness about key environmental issues and challenges, and inspiring and motivating individuals, organisations and businesses to take positive steps towards sustainability and environmental excellence in their homes, schools, communities
and workplaces. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.unep.org/wed/
featured event
JUNE 13TH
SITE TOUR - ONE ONE ONE EAGLE STREET One One One Eagle’s striking external steel structure takes inspiration from the way plants grow upwards towards the light and the high-performance glazed facade beneath allows for optimal natural light penetration to the building’s 44 office levels, and offers stunning river and city views. Designed for superior energy efficiency and indoor environment quality (IEQ), One One One Eagle features a high-efficiency air conditioning system to complement the efficiency benefits of the high-performance glazing of the external facade. Other sustainable design features include gas-fired trigeneration, rain water storage and recycling, automated glare control and high-efficiency zoned lighting. Join a tour to hear from One One One Eagle Street’s project team on how the 6 Star Green Star - Office Design v2 rating was achieved, and the team’s current pursuit of a 6 Star Green Star - office As Built v2 rating for the completed building
JUNE 4 - 8 MANILA
ASIA CLEAN ENERGY FORUM The 7th Asia Clean Energy Forum, to be held on 4-8 June 2012 at the ADB Headquarters in Manila, will highlight successful strategies and mechanisms for accelerating access to affordable, low-carbon energy. Participants from Asia and around the world will share practical knowledge about what works in the key area of clean energy technology. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.asiacleanenergyforum.org/
For Attractive Paybacks Cost-Saving Energy Efficiencies Conference: A One-Day Energy Efficiency Conference & Networking Event. JUNE 22ND
RIO+20 CONFERENCE At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) is being organized in pursuance
MORE INFORMATION: http://www.gbca.org.au
of General Assembly Resolution 64/236 (A/RES/64/236), and will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. The Rio+20 Conference It is envisaged as a Conference at the highest possible level, including Heads of State and Government or other representatives. The Conference will result in a focused political document. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/ PRICE: $50.00 MORE INFORMATION: http://www.theenergyconference. com/
WANT YOUR EVENT FEATURED HERE?
JUNE 19TH
UK COST SAVING CONFERENCE From Quick Wins, To Behavioural Change, To Longer-Term, LowCarbon Generation – 21 Corporates Reveal How To Monitor & Pinpoint Usage To Get The Numbers Right
Would you like your event displayed for all of our subscribers to see? For a free of charge display please contact us by email and we’ll see what we can do!
Email: events@intelligentwaste.com.au
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CLEANING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY
CLEAN UP APP
REVAMP
Clean Up Australia Day continues to move with the times with a re-vamp of the ‘iClean Up’ App now enabling you to join the team and get involved anytime anywhere. The Clean Up Australia iPhone app continues to encourage tech-savvy volunteers to share their experiences online and encourage other Australians to do their bit for the nation’s largest community participation event.
SAVVY APPS
The latest version of the App gives users the opportunity to join their nearest Clean Up Site, or register their own, share photos through email and social media platforms and view the results of the latest Clean Up Australia National Rubbish
Report – all at their finger-tips. Location driven: the app uses geo-location to allow the user to register and join their nearest site using Google Maps (based on postcode or suburb search) and provides details including time and meeting point. Sociability: the app lets users share photos from their Clean Up Day experience – by uploading to Facebook pages and emailing to friends. Data: the app pprovides access to data from the 2011 Rubbish Report, including top rubbish items, rubbish by type and interesting items.
Read iW on iPAD
You can download the latest edition of Intelligent Waste Magazine for iPad from our website! www.intelligentwaste.com.au
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CHECK OUT THESE E-FRIENDLY APPS
This issue’s best apps
#2 TED
#3 projectNOAH
#4 POLLUTION
#5 SEAFOOD
This educational website featuring renown and celebrated speakers from around the world discussing global issues is now available as a free app. The perfect app while you’re on public transport - a great chance to stay informed and educated while making the daily slog!
You won’t believe this app is free with all that it offers! You can join missions, which are organised groups looking for certain types of wildlife, check out the field guide which will show you wildlife that has been spotted near you, and share your wildlife spottings.
Ever wondered how clean the air you’re breathing is, right now? According to this free app, which pulls in real-time air pollution data for 1,380 cities worldwide. Usefully, you can toggle different forms of pollution,see the results overlaid on a Google map,.
This great app allows you to avoid the confusion at the fish monger over whether you are making the ethical choice for your dinner.
PRICE: FREE
PRICE: FREE
PRICE: FREE
#6 greenMETER
#7 TREEHUGGER
#8 SHOP ETHICAL! #9 OFF REMOTE
On the pricier side at $7.99, this app will allow you to quickly earn your dollars back with what it teaches you about your car’s fuel usage and efficiency. The app computes your vehicle’s power and fuel usage characteristics and evaluates your driving to increase efficiency,
This app has it all! Among other features, podcasts, articles streamed in real-time or by category, and you can post your own updates through facebook and Twitter. The onestop-shop for your environmental updates.
Have you ever been shopping and been confused by the best choice to make in terms of the impact a product has on our environment? Shop Ethical! is a great app that allows you to scroll through many products at your supermarket, enabling you to make an informed decision.
PRICE: $7.99
PRICE: FREE
PRICE: $3.99
Easy to use with Browse All, Best Choice, Good Alternative, and Avoid columns with drop-down menus PRICE: FREE
Easily turn off, lock, restart or log off from your computer from anywhere in your house, saving energy by making sure that nothing is running that doesn’t need to be running. After all, if you’re busy playing on your iPad, you probably don’t need the computer running, right? PRICE: FREE
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BALANCING
CITY BUDGETS CITY COUNCIL HAS AIMS OF BECOMING AMERICA’S GREENEST On April 30, 2009, Mayor Michael Nutter unveiled the first of 500 solar‐powered trash compactors and 210 companion single‐stream recycling units to be installed throughout Center City Philadelphia. Today, in 2012, BigBelly’s can be found on over 900 street corners of Philly.
The City had been making 17 trips each week to empty 700 wire baskets throughout Center City, at an annual cost of about $2.3 million. After replacing those 700 receptacles with 500 solar‐powered compactors and 210 recycling units, the City collects only 5 times a week, at an annual operating cost of about $720,000 – representing a 70% savings. Performing those 17 collections each week required 33 workers on 3 shifts, while performing the 5 collections per week under the new program requires only 9 workers on a single shift. The other workers have been re‐assigned to other, more productive tasks. The deployment plan was a comprehensive package including a 3‐ year financing program, a 4‐year extended warranty and service plan, and a wireless monitoring system on all 500 units.
Highlights of the program include: •
•
•
Immediate savings: By entering into a 3‐year financing arrangement, the City has no up‐front capital cost and will realize collection cost savings in the first year of approximately $850,000. Ongoing savings: The City will save nearly $13 million in cumulative collection cost savings over the next 10 years, net of the equipment cost. Annual operating cost reduction of 70 percent: compaction reduces collection demand, which directly reduces operating costs and associated vehicle fuel use and emissions.
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BigBelly® in action
With a population of about 1.5 million people, Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth most populous city in the United States. Philadelphia contains many national historic sites that relate to the founding of the United States, and attracts millions of visitors each year for business and tourism. The volume of pedestrian traffic in the downtown area creates a significant challenge to the City’s Department of Streets, the agency tasked with keeping the streets clean and staying current with a massive public waste challenge. The City saved nearly $900,000 in the first year alone, and nearly $13 million over the next ten years. The deployment plan was a comprehensive package including a 3-year financing program, a 4-year extended warranty and service plan, and a wireless monitoring system on all 500 units. “This technology will save taxpayers money, introduce sidewalk recycling and keep our streets clean. This is one more important step towards achieving our sustainability goals.” says Mayor Michael Nutter, City of Philadelphia. In conjunction with the installation of the solar‐powered trash compactors, the City introduced
public space recycling for the very first time in Philadelphia. Mayor Nutter has launched a major public relations and neighbourhood education campaign called “Philly Throws Green” with a (www.phillythrowsgreen.org). This program is part of the Mayor’s broader initiative called “Greenworks Philadelphia” (www. greenworksphila.org), the new comprehensive sustainability framework designed to help the City meet its proclaimed goal of becoming “America’s number one green city.” In the current economy, many cities and towns are actively seeking ways to reduce operating costs and balance their budgets. The City of Philadelphia is demonstrating that solar compactors can significantly reduce annual operating costs in the first year, and for years thereafter, by reducing collection frequency requirements. Providing the City’s first public‐spacerecycling program and having the ability to track operations are additional features of the program, which offers clear economic, environmental and educational benefits.
The BigBelly® can hold up to 5 times more waste than a regular rubbish bin.
“THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL SAVE TAX PAYERS MONEY, INTRODUCE SIDEWALK RECYCLING AND KEEP OUR STREETS CLEAN” MICHAEL NUTTER MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA
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CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA
Check out the Clean Up Australia iPhone App that has been revamped and available now.
SEE PAGE 12
“THIS YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 591, 400 VOLUNTEERS REMOVED A STAGGERING 16,199 TONNES OF RUBBISH FROM 7,363 CLEAN UP SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.”
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CLEANING UP OUR
OUR BACKYARD
REPORTER: Chris Wales
EMAIL: chris@intelligentwaste.com.au
WITH CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA Clean Up Australia Day may have passed, but we can all take a walk on the wild side, put on gloves and take a walk around your local play ground – bush walk track - street - and collect any bits of rubbish we find and placing it into bins.
All year round Clean Ups Did you know that you can organise a Business Clean Up all year round? All you have to do is get a team together, select a date, register online and go out and make a real difference to our environment. It is fun and rewarding.
Make a difference in your workplace • • • • • •
Turn off or use sleep mode for computers and electronics when not in use for Extended periods of time Take public transport or carpool to your workplace Recycle and reuse paper waste as much a possible at work Be aware and communicate new ideas to minimise waste to management Encourage others to minimise energy usage in your office Volunteer at your nearest Clean Up Site!
What improvements could be made to reduce energy usage in your workplace? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle….RETHINK … how can you do your job differently to reduce the amount of waste you generate or the amount of energy or water that you use? Are you using your vegetable
Australian’s have donated more than 24 million hours of their time to help their communities clean up on CUAD.
scraps to make stock for soups, sauces, casseroles for example. Think about nominating a ‘Waste Champion’ in your workplace. They can obtain assistance from the resources provided by Clean Up Australia to successfully manage and reduce waste through site-specific initiatives in your workplace.
What Happens When We Get It Wrong? • • • • • • •
We destroy the local environment and add to global environmental problems Damage to the environment could be irreversible The chances are we will cause more pollution You and the organisation will get a bad reputation for poor environmental practices Contracts will not be renewed Our costs will escalate leading to less job security; We might end up in court from breaking environmental laws, which in turn will lead to bad publicity making the company less attractive to new and existing customers.
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IN THE NEWS
APRIL-JUNE
PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 6 2012 - Public Service Award: Carlton Williams, Deputy Commissioner for Philadelphia’s Streets Dept., was recognized by Mayor Michael Nutter for his innovation and work above and beyond the call of duty, including implementing the BigBelly Solar intelligent waste & recycling collection system throughout the downtown. Mayor Michael Nutter recognized Mr. Williams for his extraordinary work with the Richardson Dilworth Award for Distinguished Public Service. While many may not know Mr. Williams directly, Mayor Nutter said has done a great deal. “He works with our block captains to keep our streets clean, he implemented weekly recycling and installed those fantastic BigBelly solar-powered trash cans all over the city,” Mayor Nutter said. “You know I love those BigBellies.” Mr. Williams, who said he was honoured to receive the award, said he loves doing his job. “I do not take it lightly,” he said. “Public service is something that I chose in a career. I have a desire to just try to find out different ways to make things better.” KENTUCKY APRIL 9, 2012 - Northern Kentucky University Dining Services is hosting a charity event on April 9 in which participants will attempt to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. “Balance” is the name of the game in this effort to break the world record for the greatest number of people on teeter-totters simultaneously in a single venue. The event is also being sponsored by NKU Green, the Activities Programming Board and the Office of Student Life. Craft says proceeds will be going to NKU Green and will support “sustainable initiatives on campus.” “Specifically, to purchase BigBelly solar-powered waste and recycling stations for the campus,” Craft said. According to NKU Dining Services Marketing Director Janelle Craft, the record will be broken “if [they] have at least 100 teeter-totters going at the same time with two people on each teeter-totter.” Craft and her colleagues came up with the theme of balance for this year’s event, because she says it encompasses what they strive to do everyday-”offer balanced food choices, support sustainability in our operations and support a culture of work-like balance for our team.” “We decided we wanted to do something large-scale where NKU students and the community could participate, and we wanted to directly support the campus,” Craft said.