Eco-Stations for Downtown Athens, Georgia
Downtown Athens, Georgia, is a vibrant area known for its lively college bar scene, with more than 80 bars located within a one-square-mile radius. Managing waste effectively in such a high-traffic environment presented unique challenges for the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department.
The County needed durable, flexible waste enclosures to help the bar and restaurant staff store their trash and recycling separately until collection, that would prevent unauthorized use and that could withstand heavy daily use. Modular enclosures were selected over custom-built structures to allow easier replacement of components, the ability to relocate units if necessary and lower overall costs.
Athens-Clarke County discovered metroSTOR products at a waste management conference and immediately recognized them as a match for their “Eco-Station” concept. Six robust on-street trash and recycling dumpster enclosures were installed in the busy downtown area.
The metroSTOR BD-B units are all-steel manufactured units with welded steel subframes, proven to resist damage in tough urban environments. metroKEY controlled hatches enabling safe loading from the sidewalk and the 3yd wheeled FEL dumpsters are serviced using double doors which open onto the street.
metroSTOR worked closely with the County to adapt the Eco-Stations to meet local needs, including:
The Eco-Stations have greatly improved downtown cleanliness and waste organization. Business owners and staff have appreciated the durable construction and improved recycling visibility. Additional refinements are underway, including adding kickstand-style door supports and cardboard recycling slots to further enhance functionality.
When I was at WasteCon a few years ago, I stopped in my tracks when I saw the metroSTOR display. It was exactly what I had been looking for — it was already designed, ready to go and matched perfectly with our vision for waste management in downtown Athens.
metroSTOR has worked incredibly hard to accommodate our needs, from switching to keypads when our businesses said apps would not work, to replacing the original latch doors with tougher versions. If equipment can survive downtown Athens, it can survive anywhere! The Eco-Stations have made a huge difference in keeping the area cleaner and more organized and the recycling graphics have helped educate customers too.
We are continuing to fine-tune the system with ideas like adding cardboard slots and doors that stay open for easier use. It has been a truly collaborative and responsive experience.
— Suki Janssen, Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department
I stopped in my tracks when I saw the metroSTOR display — exactly what I wanted for our downtown. The Eco-Stations have made things much better organized, and the informational stickers help educate customers. If equipment can withstand downtown Athens, it can survive anyplace.Suki Janssen