Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is set to install solar-powered smart bins across the area, significantly enhancing waste management efforts.
These high-tech bins, some of which have interactive capabilities, are designed to hold up to five times more waste than traditional litter bins and require less frequent emptying, making them a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
Councillor Hannah Avery emphasised that these bins would encourage responsible rubbish disposal, helping the borough remain “litter-free and looking good.”
In a unique twist, nine of the new bins will feature a talking function, with local schools being invited to record messages for the community.
The smart bins utilise solar power to compact waste, sending alerts to the council’s cleansing team when they are full.
This system ensures bins are emptied only when necessary, reducing fuel costs and pollution while freeing up resources for other important tasks, such as cleaning up fly-tips and graffiti.
The bins, provided and installed by Future Street, will be placed in town centres over the coming weeks, replacing older models.
Funding for the project has come from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge applied to new developments to support local infrastructure.
With the introduction of these innovative bins, the council aims to improve both the environmental and financial sustainability of waste management services in Reigate & Banstead.
