Case Study: Times Square Alliance achieves 40% recycling diversion with Bigbelly smart waste solutions

New York City’s Times Square Efficiently Manages 26,056 Gallons of Waste and Recycling Each Day with Bigbelly

Times Square Alliance, managing one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas in New York City, faced constant overflow from traditional sidewalk trash bins and a high volume of recyclable waste mixed into the public waste stream. To improve cleanliness and reduce collection burden, the Alliance partnered with Bigbelly to pilot smart waste and recycling stations in Times Square.

Bigbelly deployed smart waste and recycling stations with compaction, fullness sensing, and collection notifications, helping the Times Square Alliance streamline collections and make recycling easier for pedestrians. The result was a 40% recycling diversion rate, a 50% reduction in collections per week, and more than 1,612 tons of waste and recycling captured annually, while also reducing overflows, litter, and rat access to trash.

Times Square Alliance

Michael Bloomberg

Former Mayor