solar-powered dumpsters

From Liisa Rajala in USA Today...

A growing number of cities and municipalities are testing solar-powered trash compactors as a way to go green and save some green.

Communities in 46 states, as well as some state parks and colleges, are replacing regular trash cans, according to Richard Kennelly, vice president of BigBelly Solar marketing, which manufactures the devices....

The newer models can send text messages to a central server when the cans are full to "minimize miles" in the trash pickup route, Kennelly says....

From the article, it's difficult to infer whether they are cost-effective, but it's certainly an interesting and innovative idea!