Southampton Intermediate School Club To Pitch Trash Compactors To Mayor

The Southampton Intermediate School Builders Club will pitch an eco-friendly option for garbage cans to Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley on Thursday, March 31.

The group of nearly 30 fifth- through eighth-graders, who get involved in the community through the club, plan to present the benefits of using solar-powered trash compactors to the mayor, a task that had some students nervous on Tuesday.

“It’s the mayor,” fifth-grader Dean Daley pointed out.

The idea was suggested by parent volunteer Natalie Sisco, who explored the pros and cons of “Big Belly” trash compactors with the students.

According to Dylan Marek, a fifth-grader, regular garbage cans overflow in the summer, and the garbage trucks that go up and down the streets to empty the cans smell bad.

Fifth grade student Yostinfer Sandoval’s biggest issue with regular garbage cans is that animals like squirrels, birds and rodents get into them. He also does not like how the wind can knock them over and blow garbage around the village.

Big Belly trash compactors have software that allows the cans to be monitored remotely, so when they are full, they can be emptied by local sanitation crews.

According to a letter written to Mr. Epley by sixth-grader Monique Fuchs, Philadelphia has nearly 960 Big Belly compactors, and the city has seen a 60-percent reduction in the carbon footprint of municipal trash collection.

Fifth-grader Molly Radice said she hopes the cans will be placed in busy areas like Main Street in Southampton, Coopers Beach and Flying Point Beach.

The club would like to start with at least one trash compactor, which would cost $100 per month or more to rent, which students would help pay for through fundraisers.

Gabriella Arnold, a sixth-grader, said the kids in the club like to raise money, have fun, meet new people and work to make the environment and community better. Their academic advisor is Kerry Palumbo, a fifth grade English teacher.