Solar Trash Compactor

At Swami's beach park the City of Encinitas has intalled a solar trash compactor that is supposed to "save time, fuel and trucking costs needed totake trash to landfills and reduce the total volume of trash." There is a recycle content receptical to the left side of the device.

I find interesting the ways that technology can enhance sustainable performance, and the cost-benefit circumstances of each. Seems that a big part of sustainable performance of this trash system rests on the treatment of trash once picked up from these solar bins. In this instance, the bin has a recycling receptical. In another two installations nearby, there are no recycling recepticals, which raises the question of whether or not the trash is sorted once picked up. If not, and if recyclable content is sent to landfills, there may be some environmental loss to offset the gain from less frequent emptying of these trash bins.