In the news: Trial of three new solar waste bins to improve our efficiency and environmental impact

Officially known as the SHC5 BigBelly, the solar powered bins compact waste inside it, meaning they gather approximately five times more than a standard bin.  

It does this via sensors, which automatically compact it when necessary. The same sensors also send an alert to our Waste team once the bin is 80% full, so our crews know when to go and empty it.  

As part of the trial, the three bins have been installed in Billericay and Laindon - with two on Billericay High Street and one outside Laindon Station. These locations have been chosen specifically because the high amount of rubbish deposited at the locations, especially with multiple food outlets neighbouring the locations.  

Cabinet Member for Environment and Carbon Reduction, Councillor Kevin Blake, said: "This is a really interesting bit of kit. It's a lot more than just a bin and it should improve the efficiency and environmental impact of our bin collections massively. 

"It means the bins will need to be emptied five times less often, and that our crews only empty the bins once they're nearly full. Rather than attending the two times a day they currently do, they can spend more time cleaning areas and less time driving between bins.  

"It will reduce the amount of carbon emissions we are producing through our vehicles having to make less journeys to collect the waste, and never having to make the journey unnecessarily. And it will clean up our streets with us having installed them in areas where there is an especially high amount of rubbish. 

"We want to become a carbon net zero council by 2030 and as a borough by 2050, and additions like this will be really helpful in us achieving that. I'm excited to see the results from the trial - I can't see how they won't be a beneficial addition." 

ENDS

Published 2 March 2023