Essex village to get smart bins

They're part of a new approach to tackle litter

Author: Sian RochePublished 24th Jan 2022

A village in Essex will be trialling talking smart bins, which can notify the council when they're full.

Dedham, near Colchester, will be the home to four solar-powered bins which can talk to the public, and compact rubbish, enabling them to hold five times more rubbish than a standard bin.

This is part of Colchester council's renewed attempt tackling to tackle littering in the borough.

They're also investing in litter bin route optimisation technology which should identify improvements to existing bin lorry routes making collections more efficient and are giving litter picking volunteers more equipment to aid their activities.

Cllr Beverley Oxford, Portfolio Holder for Communities, said:

“Tackling litter is hugely important and getting the community involved in this is a priority. We are investing in technology to help us to do everything we can for an effective and efficient service."

Cllr Simon Crow, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, added:

“These new initiatives show how seriously we take this issue as a council. By investing in advanced technology, extra resources and engagement initiatives that involve the community in helping to tackle the problem, we really hope to make a difference for a cleaner Colchester. I hope it also makes individuals think twice about abandoning waste, so that we can all enjoy the benefits of living in a clean and tidy area.”

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