Solar Litter Bins That Call Home

Saturday, 3 July 2021 08:00

A litter bin that tells you when its full

Imagine a litter bin that calls home to say it is full and needs to be emptied. They exist and are solar-powered.

Sevenoaks District Council will soon be rolling out the first of their ‘smart bins' throughout rural areas of the District.

Earlier in the year, the Council secured £25,000 in grant money to pilot fifty smart-bins. The new, larger, wood cladded bins will include sensors that alert the Council when they need clearing. This means a quicker, reactive service when the bins are full and fewer wasted journeys when bins are not at full capacity. The new bins can also hold more waste than the current ones.

Cabinet Member for Cleaner and Greener, Cllr Margot McArthur said:
“As a Council, we are always looking for innovative ways to improve the lives of residents and contribute to our Net Zero 2030 commitment. The smart bins include a recycling compartment and are much friendlier to the environment as it means our Street Cleaning team will only travel to rural areas when necessary.

“We currently spend roughly £1.4m a year, 10% of our annual budget on street cleaning. This new technology will allow us to work smarter and faster for our residents, businesses, and visitors.

“This project is part of our overall litter strategy to help reduce rubbish across the District.”

The bins are due to be installed from late July.