Singing bins in Southend

Southend-on-Sea City Council and Veolia use smart technology and tunes to tackle littering with launch of #JustBinIt campaign. 

The talkative Big Belly bins are part of the local council’s new campaign to clean up the streets of Southend. Funded by waste management company Veolia, the bins will feature at key seafront locations with high footfall to encourage people to dispose of rubbish responsibly over the summer, when Southend attracts large numbers of tourists. Put something in the bin and you’ll be rewarded with a friendly message or a tune, from funk to drum’n’bass.

Cllr Meg Davidson from Southend-on-Sea City Council and Stuart Atkinson, Senior Contract Manager at Veolia UK, with a singing bin, photo courtesy of Southend-on-Sea City Council.

The bins can also compact the waste they contain and provide the council with live information on how full they are, so waste collection is much more efficient – and cheaper.  

Social media is also being employed with fun anti-litter memes and informative content encouraging local people and tourists alike to share their commitment to keeping Southend clean, using the hashtag #JustBinIt. For example: 

Sing it loud, sing it proud!

These singing bins are the stars of our seafront anti-litter campaign. Join us in this musical movement and let's hit the right notes for a litter-free environment. Have you seen them yet? #JustBinIt #GetBinsTrending @VeoliaUK @VisitSouthend pic.twitter.com/cf0lLdj7FE

— Southend-on-Sea City Council (@SouthendCityC) August 1, 2023

Neon stickers on the bins feature engaging messages such as ‘Thanks for binning your rubbish, babes,’ or ‘Bin looking for me?’ These stickers glow in the dark, helping people to find the bins at night. Signage also asks people to take their rubbish home if the bin is already full, with a QR code to make it easy to report that it needs to be emptied. 

Eye-catching posters and banners along the seafront also direct people to the bins. Local traders have been encouraged to join the campaign by displaying posters, too. 

Stuart Atkinson, Senior Contract Manager at Veolia UK says: ‘I am delighted to be launching this new anti-litter initiative on Southend’s seafront. At Veolia, we understand that tackling litter requires creative solutions and this innovative campaign not only aims to keep the seafront clean but also encourages both local residents and the many thousands of visitors that enjoy Southend, to take responsibility for their actions in a fun and memorable way. 

‘We’re looking forward to a cleaner and more sustainable seafront for present and future generations to enjoy.’ 

Cllr Meg Davidson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, adds: ‘Southend-on-Sea City Council and Veolia are determined to combat the blight of littering and protect the city’s beautiful seven miles of coastline and beach. By working together and engaging the community, we aim to create a cleaner and more pleasant environment for everyone to enjoy, and we hope that these new bins and the wider campaign will be impactful and deliver results.’

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