Wandsworth Council is trialing smart bin technology to help keep the borough’s streets clean.
The technology will be put into existing litter bins
Smart bins technology consists of a sensor that alerts the council’s waste team when the bins are full. This means collection teams can focus on bins that need emptying.
The council is planning a pilot scheme at around ten locations around the borough, with the technology installed in existing bins.
The trial is part of a range of measures being taken by the council to reduce litter and flytipping. It is planning to trial special bins that recycle chewing gum, and has launched the #MyWandsworth campaign to send a clear message that flytipping is unacceptable. Alongside this, it will continue to fine litterbugs, and prosecute the most serious flytippers.
The council spends around £4m a year on its street cleaning service – all streets are swept at least once a week and busier streets are swept up to six times a day. There is also a rapid response team dealing with issues such as flytips, dead animals and broken glass.
The MyWandsworth campaign is helping to fight flytipping and littering
The council’s environment spokesman Cllr Steffi Sutters said: “Keeping Wandsworth’s streets amongst the cleanest in London is a priority for the council, because our residents have told us it’s important to them. We will continue to do all we can to keep on top of litter and flytipping, and this smart technology could be a good way to evaluate new solutions and use our resources effectively.
“We will search for more locations and hope to have the pilot scheme up and running soon. If it’s a success, we will roll it out across the borough.”
Find out more about street cleaning, including when your street is cleaned and how to request a street clean or report a flytip, at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/streetcleaning.
