Republic Services and UNLV Unveil Solar Compactor

Republic Services, Phoenix, has announced the installation of what it claims is the first solar-powered compactor used in southern Nevada on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

According to Republic Services, the GreenBuilt solar compactor, manufactured by Marathon Equipment, Vernon, Ala., is capable of offering an initial energy savings of at least 40 percent, which could significantly increase depending on the number of sunny days. Republic says in southern Nevada the compactor can operate on solar power more than 85 percent of the time.

In addition to the solar compactor, UNLV plans to add solar recycling compactors in the near future as part of its campus initiative to find sustainable alternatives for all facilities and university sports venues.   

Republic Services is the distributor of Marathon’s solar compactors for the Southern Nevada region.

Joe Burkel, Republic Services of southern Nevada area president, says, “The solar technology has made our operations and collection capabilities more efficient for our customers. The installation of the solar compactors will reduce the overall carbon footprint for the university while conserving energy usage. We are excited to make UNLV our first customer utilizing the new equipment and are eager to expand awareness of solar waste and recycling bin options for businesses across the greater Las Vegas Valley.”

Marathon is a part of Dover’s Environmental Solutions Group. The company says it is the first equipment company in the waste and recycling business to incorporate sustainable solar power into industrial waste compaction systems.