Newham Council Smart Bins

Newham Council to use fill-level monitoring and solar compacting bins.

10:34 20 December 2017

Newham Council has teamed up with smart bin manufacturer Bigbelly for the installation of fill-level monitoring and solar compacting bins at prominent high footfall locations, including outside Tube stations in Newham and various points along Barking Road. The units are using solar power compacting technology, allowing them to hold over five times the amount found in a traditional litterbin.

 

Each Bigbelly unit is fitted with sensors designed to monitor their fill levels. When it reaches the capacity, the sensor will trigger an email alert to the PRS office, so that staff can be sent to empty it.

 

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: “This is exciting because we are using renewable energy sources to be more green. Crushing down the rubbish, and making more space means we can better use our resources, both staff and vehicles, to make the borough cleaner.”

 

Doug Wilkinson, Managing Director at Public Realm Services Ltd, added: “It isn’t directly about saving money, but about saving people’s time and creating the capacity to do more. In only a few weeks the impact of Bigbelly is already being felt.”

 

“For example, some of the bins on Barking Road were being emptied every day, even if they were only a quarter full. Now, from the data we are receiving electronically from the units, we’re staving off collections for three to four days at a time or until the bin tells us it’s full,” he continued.