Ecopod: Residential Recycling Trash Masher
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.22.06
We got trashed for complaining about Boston's solar powered trash compactor, but remain convinced that garbage should be recycled, not simply compressed and dumped. Here is a compactor we like: Designed by BMW Designworks USA, "The appliance houses a compactor, and provides an efficient way to crush, store and redeem recyclable beverage containers, specifically plastic bottles and aluminium cans. Consumers throw their bottle or can in the appropriate slot, step on a foot pedal, and enjoy the satisfying sound of compaction. The compacted container falls into an internal bin, which can be removed for redemption or curbside disposal. Each pod has storage capacity for approximately 50 crushed containers, while an upper compartment has additional room for glass bottles, newspapers and other recyclable materials. Everything neatly stored away and ready to moved to the next step in the recycling chain." Available this fall, although perhaps under another name; TreeHuggers will know ecopods as biodegradable coffins. ::Ecopod.org, ::Ecopod via ::Springwise
Just this morning I climbed into my recycling can and jumped up and down to compact and make room for more recycling. That was NOT the sweet sound of compaction (or smell!).
Hooray for the ecopod! I look forward to having the eco-chic recycling center in our kitchen to clean up the way we recycle. Clean and Green!
I'm living in europe right now. I assume that BMW has been selling this in europe for the last 40 years and is just now introducing it to the states. Does anybody know if the euros have this on the market yet? If so where to buy? Thanks.
Not seen any of these in the UK yet ...
I just received my Ecopod after waiting for almost 5 months to have it shipped. It looks great but one problem: it broke on the first plastic bottle I tried to crush. yes thats right the very first bottle, an empty Vitamin Water bottle. A metal flap inside the compacting chamber snapped off at the hinge. Unbelievable poor construction and quality. I cannot believe BMW pout their name on this. I have immediately asked for this device to be picked up and full credit given back to me. Beware!
I can crush a can with my foot, hand or even one of those manual can crushers. How green is it to plug in a machine to do what my foot can? Granted, if you are unable to do these things yourself, then it's probably a good way to go. And as far as plastic bottles, I can't see myself buying a machine just for them. When I take my bottles to a recycling center, they have machines that take care of all of that for me. It just means I go to the center more often if the bottles are whole. I just don't see how it's all that green.
What a piece of junk. The one we just got today at work, just broke while attempting to crush a bottle. BTW, it doesn't plug in - your foot pushes a lever down that does the crushing, supposidly.
Great. Another machine designed to take something simple and make it complicated.
All you need is your foot, ladies and gents. Sometimes your bare hands will even do the trick. And you'll be burning calories instead of using electricity.
we received this today... larger than expected and cans are crushed on the wide rather than down (not resulting in the puck shape you see in the video... think how one of those hand potato mashers work -- or a garlic press.), but seems nice enough. we did get it at a pretty deep discount and unsure if i'd pay full price for it. sure, you can crush cans in many ways, but this one works for us... and we don't have to worry about stomping cans on our new kitchen floor.