The downtown will now have eight pickup sites that include dumpsters or Vert-I-Pack trash compactors. “Vert-I-Pack is a dumpster that has an automated packing system on top of it, which allows ...

PATERSON — In city where many people complain about litter-strewn streets, officials on Tuesday celebrated the installation of the first of 90 solar-powered trash receptacles — devices that ...

What was the council’s solution for a $423,000 expenditure they derided? They voted to spend $264,298 to buy another 55 solar trash cans.

The compactor has a solar panel on top that collects energy. When the bin becomes full, the compactor presses down on the trash to pack it down until it fills up again.