Smart tech bins in Chester

This month, 57 ‘smart bins’ are being installed across Chester city centre. Each bin alerts the local council when it’s ready to be emptied. The bins are powered by innovative solar technology that collects energy even without direct sunlight, ensuring optimum performance all year. 

Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, says: ‘These smart bins are ideal for use in very busy areas with high footfall, like the city centre.

A smart bin in Ellesmere Port, photo courtesy of Cheshire West and Chester Council

‘They store over 1,000 litres of rubbish and use smart technology to let us know when they’re ready to be emptied, ensuring our street stay litter free while making efficiency savings and cutting C02 emissions, by reducing the number of vehicle journeys to empty them. 

‘We made a commitment in our Waste Management Strategy to provide good quality and appropriate bins that make it easy for residents and visitors to dispose of their waste in the right way.’ 

The new bins include a foot pedal for hands-free use. Each bin will feature its own QR code so that any damage can easily be reported. There’s even the option for the bins to thank people for depositing their rubbish with a cheery voice message. 

‘The messaging is interchangeable from a small selection of standard clips,’ a spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council tells Infotec.news, ‘saying everything from a simple thank you to “Merry Christmas.” There is also an opportunity for individual location-based messages to be added in future. 

‘All the existing city bins will be replaced, with a few location changes based on data we have collected.  The new bins have superior compacting ability enabling them to take significantly more rubbish offering a more effective service.’ 

The council aims to ensure minimum disruption while the new bins are installed but says there may be missing or duplicate bins in some areas briefly. 

In related news, one of Britain’s largest fleets of bin lorries is going electric.