50 more BigBellies hit Philly's streets

The onslaught of "BigBelly" public recycling bins and solar-powered trash compactors continues!

The Streets Department began by putting nearly 500 of them in Center City, and last August added another batch in other neighborhoods, including Ogontz Avenue and West Oak Lane.

Now, the city is Bellying up South Street, placing 50 of them along the iconic way.

But, seeing as how it's South Street, the Bellies just had to have a bit more pizzazz, apparently.

So the department paired up with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and its "Big Picture" students, ages 10 to 14.  It provides mural training and visual arts education with a focus on community and social responsibility. The students already had designed wrappings for 20 of the city's recycling trucks, and now they've done the same for 20 of the BigBelly bins, turning them into "Litter Critter" creations. My favorite has a mouth with big teeth around the bin's opening.

They worked with artists Ben Woodward and Thom Lessner from the Philadelphia art collective, Space 1026.

Because of the compacting ability, the devices have to be emptied less often, so they are intended to save on staff time and fuel costs, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. They also are seen as an improvement on the old wire bins, which attracted rodents, filled with rainwater, and often had their contents blown out by gusty winds.