1

Big Belly Trash Cans

Project Proposal

Names: Joseph

Stapleton, Jeffrey F.
Giannini, Thomas Duff and Kyle Crute
SUST 2100 Environmental Sustainability
Stockton University
Fall 2015

Table of Contents
I.
II.
III.
IV.

Mission Statement ..Page 3

Abstract ..Page 3
Statement of Need .. Page 3 & 4
Project Rationale ..Page 4, 5, & 6
A. Modernize Core Services
..Page 4
1. Operations data
..
2. Solar power
..
B. Lower the Carbon Footprint
..Page 4
1. Conseve Fuel
..
C. Reduce Litter ..Page 5
1. Keep out vermon
..
2. Eliminate waste overflow

V.

VI.
VII.
VIII.

..
D. Save Money ..Page 5
Detailed Project Description ..Page 6
A. Goals ..
B. Measuring Success ..
C. Timeline ..
Implementation ..Page 6
References ..Page 7
Landfills in NJ ..Page 8 & 9

I.

Mission Statement
The mission statement of our project is to provide Stockton University with a
more sustainable way of disposing of the garbage. According to a study done by Boston
College, the average college student produces about 640 pounds of solid garbage each
year. The Big Belly trash can give Stockton University the opportunity to recycle solid
waste in a much more efficient and sustainable manner. The placement of 15 Big Belly
trash cans around campus would greatly impact the way trash is disposed by saving
money, increasing recycling, handles much more garbage, and reduce our overall carbon
footprint.
II.
Abstract
The main goal for our project is to create a much cleaner and more sustainable
Stockton University. As stated before in a study done by Boston College, the average
college student produces about 640 pounds of solid garbage each year. Stockton
University has a population of 8,570 students and that would be about 5.5 million pounds
of solid waste produced each year at Stockton. Having a Big Belly trash can wont
drastically change that number, but it will provide a much cleaner and cost effective way
of storing and disposing trash. There is a plethora of reasons to choose from that all
support a better campus with the use of the Big Belly trash cans. These trash cans provide
less litter, no overflowing of trash ever again, saves money by needing to be maintained
less, and overall reduces the carbon footprint of the whole campus. My group and I
believe that 15 Big Belly trash cans would be more than enough to greatly impact the
waste management of Stockton University. The Big Belly trash also is fully selfmaintained. Solar panels charge the trash can to be in use all hours of the day and an email will be sent to the waste management department with how full the trashcan is, the
items recycled/how frequent, and if it needs to be emptied. The trash cans do a much
better job than standard trash cans and actually require less work. Overall, the investment
of 15 Big Belly trash cans can only benefit Stockton University in creating a better
green image that the University strives for. The Big Belly trash can is the future of
public waste management and continues to be improved every day.
III.
Statement of Need
College campuses all around the world produce a lot of waste. The majority of
college students arent aware of the amount of waste they actually produce. The truth of
the matter is that Stockton students relatively generate the same amount of waste as other
college students. Therefore, there will always be a need for a more sanitary and cost
effective way for disposing garbage. The Big Belly trash can gives a university the ability
to better manage their garbage with reduce labor and cost. The initial investment may be
costly, but the trash can greatly pays itself back with saved money and less money being
put out for waste management. Stockton University could further reduce their carbon
footprint with just 15 Big Belly trash cans in specific locations that are listed below.

Overflowing trash cans are an eyesore, especially on a college campus, and with the Big
Belly trash can Stockton could have a much cleaner and sanitary environment for its
students. Overall, the Big Belly trash can is a very smart investment for Stockton
University for becoming more sustainable and improving the overall quality of the
campus.
IV. Rationale
A. Modernize Core Services
The Big Belly trash can operates with up to date technology that allows the trash can to
keep a minute by minute log of the capacity the trash can is currently withholding. The
IOS and Android systems make management as simple as an app on a phone. While also
being able to access the data from a computer, the management can optimize their time in
order to be even more efficient.
a. Operations Data
The Big belly system makes the community accountable for every piece of waste
that enters the mouth of a big belly trash can. Keeping track of every piece of
paper, bottle, and waste the processing system will calculate the areas that create
the most waste and those who tend to recycle more. Allowing the university to
hold areas of the campus accountable for what is being discarded there. As the
Big Belly system tracks disposal over time, you can track the hot spots and create
a historical analysis.
b. Solar Power
The Big Belly trash can is completely sustainable and is self powering through the
solar panels that are located on the top of every Big Belly trash can. The power
collected via the solar panels is converted within the trash can itself allowing the
compacting system and operating system to function twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week. Once fully charged, the system can function without 72 hours
of direct sunlight which has yet to become a problem in any city or university in
the country or world.
B. Lower the Carbon Footprint
The worst part of dealing with waste is removing it from the bin and transporting the
material to a site in which it can be compressed and disposed of properly. The less often
that employees have to complete this process, the fewer emissions that we produce. By
using solar power to compress the material within the Big Belly trash cans waste
management has to make fewer stops. With the assistance of the operating system, one
can track the trash cans and only make emptying trips when needed.
a. Conserve Fuel
Due to the less trips the dump trucks have to make fuel would be saved. The Big
Belly company estimates that trip costs are reduced by 80 percent. By keeping
these low mileage machines off the road we can save fuel for more appropriate
matters. The nearest landfill from the university is located in Egg Harbor

Township. Not only would you save fuel and emissions from having to travel
around the campus to empty trash bins, but you save in the travels to Egg Harbor
Township which is located an additional 8 miles from the campus.
C. Reduce Litter
Living within the first National Reservation ever recognized within the Continental
United States, the need to preserve and maintain the pinelands should be prevalent. With
lakes and pinelands within our own campus, wildlife is directly affected by the trash we
create.
a. Keep out vermon
The Big Belly waste disposal stations have been designed to keep animals out,
keeping waste and smell in. With the diversity of species of wildlife within
Stockton University it is impossible to deny that this is an issue. Small mammals,
insects, and reptiles can find there way into the bins that are currently located on
the campus. Not only can critters then feed but they can breed within the comfort
of the trash liner. We have the potential to kill any inhabitant of the trash cans
with any knowledge. This may be a small effect on the ecosystem, but it is still
human involvement that can be avoided in order to live with nature as one.
b. Eliminate waste overflow
With the computer system in place for the Big Belly trash cans, you never have to
worry about forgetting to empty trash bins that see very little use (i.e. the bins
along the dark path). With that in mind, there is also no reason to ever see waste
spewing out of more populated areas (i.e. outside of the campus center) because
not only due Big Bellys hold more waste, they also will acknowledge the
manager when the trash load is full. By always being able to acknowledge when
waste builds up every minute, large events can be monitored and employees can
be notified when to change the bins. The beauty and cleanliness of the school can
truly be on display no matter what.
D. Save Money.
It is difficult to determine exactly how much money Stockton University will be making
until the implementation of the waste disposal system because we currently do not
document exactly how much waste we create and how many pounds of recycled material
we produce. However, just from reducing the amount of trips in order to empty trash
bins by 80 percent, you can easily estimate the amount of money saved each year through
that. And once the project does join our campus then we can begin to sell back the
aluminum and plastic that is compressed within the Big Belly bins. Since the recycled
matter is compressed, it becomes available to sell in every state. Now not only is the Big
Belly saving money, but it is also producing its very own profit. Yes the initial
investment is a bit much, it begins to pay itself off over the years it is implemented.
V. Detailed Project Description
a. Goals: The overall goal is to increase sustainability on campus
through reductions in vehicle emissions associated with waste collection and

transportation. In the process we hope to foster more awareness about recycling

and sustainability on campus while giving students, faculty, and alumni something
to be proud of.
b. Measuring Success: Success can be measured in a financial aspect
thorough reductions in amount of time spent collecting waste, in addition to
reduced expenditures on fuel. While software can calculate recycling rates
c. Timeline: After receiving the proper funding and approvals from
the university the collection units can be put in place immediately. Saving will
increase over time as software is better able to track trends in waste disposal while
optimizing collection routes and schedules.
VI. Implementation
Below is a map of the possible locations around campus that are marked in pink. There are 15
locations along the walkways and parking lots of the school that could replace trash cans that
already exist there. The best way of going about this is having a trail of two years where we only
have one or two sites with Big Belly Trash Cans. The sites should be areas with a higher
concentration of waste and use that as a sample of how much we can save with turning every
trash site into a Big Belly Site. What we would analyze in the trail years is the volume of waste
created and the weekly, monthly, and yearly condensed collection. We can compare it to past
waste audits and figure out how much waste reduction the school can actually create.

VII. References
(n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2015, from
https://depts.washington.edu/esreview/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/Culgin_Manga_Pool_TrashCompactors_PublishOnline.pdf

Bigbelly International Partners. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2015, from http://bigbelly.com/

NJDEP APPROVED OPERATING COMMERCIAL SANITARY LANDFILLS (n.d.).

Retrieved November 26, 2015, from http://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/lrm/aocslf.htm

Municipal Solid Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from

http://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/

9 Interesting Facts and Statistics about Littering - litter. it costs you. (2013, November 18).
Retrieved November 26, 2015, from http://www.litteritcostsyou.org/9-interesting-facts-andstatistics-about-littering/

VIII. Landfills in NJ

Landfill

NJEMS PI #

Class

City

Waste Types

Atlantic County UA

143393

Egg Harbor Township

10,13,13C,23,25,27, 27A

Burlington County

150098

Mansfield /Florence Twps.

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27I

Cape May Cty MUA

154930

Upper Twp./Woddbine Borough

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I

Cumberland County IA

133530

Deerfield Twp.

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I

Gloucester County IA

132199

South Harrison Twp.

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I

Keegan Landfill (NJMC)

133571

II

Kearny

13,13C,27

Middlesex County UA

132314

East Brunswick

10,13,13C,23,25,27, 27A, 27I, TRMW (1-7)

Monmouth County

133927

Tinton Falls

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I

Ocean County LF Corp

133642

Manchester

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I, TRMW (2-7)

Pennsauken-PCFACC

132037

Pennsauken

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27I

132608

Alloway Township

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I

132675

Lafayette Township

132759

White Township

Salem County UA

Sussex County

Warren County

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27A,27I, TRMW (2-7)

10,13,13C,23,25,27,27I, TRMW (2-7)

"Sanitary landfill" means a solid waste facility, at which solid waste is deposited on or into the land as fill for the
purpose of permanent disposal or storage for a period of time exceeding six months, except that it shall not include
any waste facility approved for disposal of hazardous waste pursuant to this chapter. Sanitary landfills shall be
further classified into one of the following classes:
"Class I sanitary landfill" means a solid waste facility which may accept all types of nonhazardous solid waste
including ID 10, 13, 23, 25, 27, 72;
"Class II sanitary landfill" means a solid waste facility which may accept only ID type 27 or a specific category of
ID type 27 of nonhazardous solid waste; and
"Class III sanitary landfill" means a solid waste facility which may accept only inert nonputrescible nonhazardous
solid waste, ID 13 or 23.