BigBelly Compactors a Big Fat Waste of Money: Controller

Report questions value of Philly solar compactors

The city controller's office is questioning the value of solar trash compactors installed downtown last summer for $3,700 a pop.
 
Controller Alan Butkovitz says his office monitored BigBelly compactor collections in March and April, and found collections from the compactors averaged 10 a week.
 
The compactor's manufacturer, BigBelly Solar, had projected that the compactors would reduce the number of weekly collections from 17 to five. It also promised that only a one-man crew would be needed for collections, but two-man crews are still needed, according to Butkovitz.
 
The city purchased 500 compactors and 210 recycling units for more than $2.1 million. Officials say they were meant to cut collection costs by 70 percent.

The controller also stated in his report that the city could have saved $200,000 by purchasing the compactors from a distributor instead of the manufacturer. He said that BigBelly Solar misinformed the city that it was the only company that sells solar compactors, reports the Daily News.

"The city relied solely on the claims of BigBelly Solar without any other verification," Butkovitz said. "This is a highly questionable business practice, especially when dealing with a company that has never handled a contract of this magnitude."
 
The Streets Department says the compactors have allowed the city to eliminate 24 positions and cut collection from seven to five days per week.
 
BigBelly officials say the controller's report is riddled with errors.

 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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