11 Sept, 2017

Smart Bins to Keep Adelaide's Streets Cleaner

The City of Adelaide has installed three solar-powered ‘smart bins’ in Hindley Street to help keep the street cleaner and more attractive by using innovative waste technology.

The Clean Cube structure, supplied by South Australian company Smart City Solutions, uses a cloud-based system to optimise waste collection.

A normal wheelie bin sits inside the cube. The cube has a sensor that provides real time data information about how full the bin is so the bin can be emptied when required. This will help prevent rubbish from overflowing and spilling on to the footpath.

The cubes also contain a compactor which compacts the rubbish inside when it reaches a certain level. This enables a 120 litre bin to hold up to 960 litres of litter, which is about eight times the amount the bin would normally hold.

The technology means that bins are emptied only as needed which reduces unnecessary pick-ups of half empty bins, while also preventing bins from overflowing and polluting the streets. The technology increases efficiency and effectiveness while reducing costs and labour and improves public cleanliness.

City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese that this partnership demonstrates an innovative, eco-friendly solution to waste management.

“Collecting public waste is a core service of Council and is critical to providing a welcoming environment for the quarter of a million people who use the city each day,” said Martin.

“Each year, the City of Adelaide manages over 11,824 tonnes of waste and recycling from residents, businesses, Council owned facilities and public areas.

“As Adelaide’s population grows, waste will also increase so it’s vital that our waste operations evolve with the use of technology into a fully integrated smart system.

“This smart bin technology can reduce collection frequency and costs by up to 80 per cent.

“Keeping Adelaide as clean as possible shows the pride we all have in our beautiful city streets and Park Lands. This technology demonstrates that Adelaide is leading the way as a smart, green city.”

Three bins will initially be placed along Hindley Street to trial the technology.

President of the West End Association, Andrew Wallace, said that he was pleased to see the bins trialled on Hindley Street, given the large numbers of people who visit the area, especially on weekends.

“On weekends, we find that bins get full to overflowing, and rubbish spills on to the footpath which is unsightly, and can also pose a health risk.

“This technology will eliminate this issue, which is important to improving the amenity of the street. I am pleased that the City of Adelaide has chosen Hindley Street as the first trial site for this technology and I look forward to seeing the difference the bins make.”