[mcooley]

Perhaps they've gotten their cost issues under control now, but this 2010 report from the Philly comptroller points out a whole bunch of problems: http://www.philadelphiacontroller.org/publications/other%20r...

The report shows all sorts of maintenance issues that weren't accounted for. It takes longer to empty the bags on these units, for example.

I helped write a proposal to buy some of these units (albeit for a university campus, not streetside in cities), and we didn't find any significant cost savings. The appeal is the PR/image boost of having solar panels on every trash can. It looks like you're doing something sustainable, even if the numbers don't add up.

[Spooky23]

It isn't even that noble. The reasons that cities bought them is that the Federal stimulus paid for them.

The machines jam in the winter, the batteries have a shelf life, and they become filty and disgusting in the summer heat. The company is a good at lobbying though.

[rabbler]

No-bid contract - I remember when this was a big deal on the news for a while. Reminds me of the alcohol vending machine debacle (thankfully it seem that we are closer to privatizing our liquor stores in recent weeks).

These things were so bad Wegman's thought that they were hurting their business. http://articles.philly.com/2011-06-13/news/29653045_1_wine-k...

[duaneb]

They're also horrible trash cans.

[jstalin]

That report is pretty damning.