Smart bin installation begins

The roll out of 'smart bins' in the city's Central Business District (CBD) has commenced.

Smart bins operate on solar power, and feature a compacting mechanism to allow the bins to hold up to sixteen times more waste than our current bins.

The bins feature a cleaner and more hygienic enclosed design, a router to boost the city's free wi-fi network, a built-in extinguisher for bin fires, and sensors to alert Council staff if a bin is full or emitting unpleasant odours.

The technology is being trialled at the eastern end of the CBD, with seven of the bins to be installed along Argent and Oxide Streets, and old bins to be removed.

"There'll be a reduction in the overall number of bins in that vicinity, however we'll actually increase how much rubbish we can collect and remove from that area," said Council's Chief Financial Officer, Jay Nankivell.

"It's only a trial at this stage however, so we'll see how it goes, and if it proves to be effective we can look at installing smart bins in other public areas and parks," he said.

"When smart technology is mentioned people often think of lighting or CCTV, but this project will hopefully highlight that smart technology can be applied to all aspects of Council's operations - even to something as simple as rubbish collection - to increase our efficiency."