Raleigh’s historic downtown area has a stinky problem: a lack of alleys means that the rolling garbage carts of restaurants are often sitting on sidewalks.
A conversation last summer between City of Raleigh Downtown Coordinator Jen Baker and WithersRavenel Vice President Brock Storrusten led to the creation of the Save Our Sidewalks initiative to address the issue. Collaborative meetings and Baker’s discovery of the Finnish company Molok were integral in the problem-solving process.
Now, WithersRavenel is assisting the City in its launch of a pilot project based on a first-of-its-kind model in the United States: Molok garbage containers that will be partially buried underground. The containers’ location, according to Molok, greatly reduces odor while also freeing up space on sidewalks for pedestrians.
The pilot project, dubbed #DumptheCart by the City, will begin with the June 3 installation of several trash containers in a no-parking zone near the corner of Hargett and South Wilmington streets.
Several restaurants in the area, including Gravy, Sitti, The Raleigh Times and Mecca Restaurant, are taking part in the pilot project. They will put their bagged trash into the partially buried containers, which can also be used by pedestrians.
WithersRavenel contributed to the project with engineering plans, survey and SUE, graphic renderings and design strategy, videography for site analysis, and by hosting numerous meetings in our Raleigh office.
The pilot project will run for six months, and could lead to a larger implementation based on results. Two additional locations for the Molok containers have already been identified.
Click here for coverage of the project in the News & Observer.
