Bigbelly offers urban food waste dropoff system

Needham, Massachusetts-based Bigbelly Solar LLC is making available worldwide its Bigbelly Smart Compost Program, which connects food scrap collection bins with nearby residents via their smartphones.

Bigbelly says its Smart Compost Program provides residents a "seamless" way to dispose of food waste in an environmentally conscious, budget-friendly manner, powered by cutting-edge technology.

After piloting the technology in the United States, Bigbelly is rolling out its innovative program around the world.

The firm says there are three main components to the program: conveniently placed, secure bins that can each service 100 residences; a mobile app that allows participants in the program to locate and unlock the bins; and cloud-based management software that allows municipalities to operate the program at a cost Bigbelly says is up to 50 percent less than curbside composting.

“This is where convenience meets sustainability, all the while contributing to the beautification of our planet,” says Jeff Satwicz, Bigbelly’s founder and vice president of business development. “We’re not just tackling waste; we’re fostering a cleaner, greener, more equitable future.

“There’s about a 70 million household gap between the people that have access to recycling and those with access to food waste collection. That’s a massive divide to close. We see an enormous opportunity to make a difference.”

Since Bigbelly Smart Compost bins are placed in public spaces, that can eliminate the need for buy-in from individual residents or building managers, says the firm. Participation from willing residents is then automated through a free Smart Compost app.

“We can have a community program up and running in a matter of weeks,” Satwicz says. “Municipalities have access to software to manage use, collection routes and capacity. All residents need to do is download the mobile app and they’re ready to go.”

The compost bins are fully enclosed and locked, designed to eliminate the possibility of rats and other pests gaining access and to prevent non-app users from depositing trash.

Individuals who participate in the Smart Compost program locate and unlock the bins through the mobile app, which can be configured to inform residents as to what can and can’t be composted.

Established in 2003, Bigbelly currently serves more than 2,500 municipal or corporate customers in 60 countries. The bins incorporate solar and battery-powered technologies and sensors that monitor data such as fill level, collection activity and GPS location.