Critics trash bailout-funded bins as rubbish
Boston Herald | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | By Hillary Chabot
Heaping $21.8 million of federal stimulus money into 6,000 solar-powered trash compactors isn’t passing the smell test for lawmakers already concerned about wasting the Bay State’s share of the bailout windfall.
The pricey garbage cans, which cost about $3,600 each, would be installed in all 250 state-owned parks if the funding is approved.
“It’s projects like these that make people suspicious of the entire federal stimulus project,” said Rep. Vinny M. DeMacedo (R-Plymouth), who sits on the legislative committee designed to oversee how the state’s share is spent. “They might be nice, but how are they creating jobs?”
BigBelly Solar trash compactors are designed to do more than prevent litterbugs, state officials said. A solar-powered battery compacts the rubbish, cutting fuel costs by decreasing how often state workers must pick up the trash.
“I understand the immediate skepticism, but it is going to allow us to be efficient and environmentally sensitive over the next couple of decades,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation secretary Rick Sullivan.
The $21.8 million proposal is only one item on a state list with 3,250 “shovel-ready” projects identified by Gov. Deval Patrick. Not all proposals listed will be getting funding, but BigBelly Solar representatives plan to meet with DCR officials next week to detail how many jobs would be created.
The Needham-based company employs 23 people, but would ramp up manufacturing of the high-tech trash cans if the contract is approved, said BigBelly Solar Vice President Richard Kennelly.
“If we were to get a large order for compactors this year, it would create an awful lot of work to make them and install them,” Kennelly said, adding much of the manufacturing is done in Massachusetts. The assembly of the rubbish cans occurs at Mack Molding in Arlington, Vt.
There are already 80 of the costly cans in state parks, and the compactors are also used outside Fenway Park [map], and in Boston and Somerville.
Sen. Mark C. Montigny (D-New Bedford), who also sits on the stimulus legislative oversight committee, said, “From what I can tell they are a good product, it’s just that our infrastructure needs are so enormous, I was hoping to see more money spent on that.”