New ‘smart bins’ on the way to help people love where they live

A smart solution to rubbish disposal is set to be trialled in Parramatta with Council finalising plans to install two high-tech compactor ‘smart bins’ in the city’s CBD.

Parramatta will join a small and exclusive club of Australian cities that utilise the technology.  The bins have also been rolled out overseas in Smart Cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and New York.

The Bigbelly solar-compacting bins have the capacity to hold up to five times the trash of a 120 litre wheelie bin within the same footprint as a standard public bin.  They will be wirelessly networked with Council and will send an alert to the Cleansing team when they are nearly full and ready to be emptied.

“Council staff do a great job of keeping our city clean, but with an increasing number of people living and working in our CBD every day, one of the main challenges we face is predicting when bins will become full and providing timely servicing,” Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard said.

“I am very happy to see this Smart City technology being employed here in Parramatta and I’m sure the bins will be a great tool to help keep our streets clean.”

Council’s ‘smart bins’ will also play an important role in further improving the cleanliness of Parramatta.

In December last year local businesses were polled about perceptions of cleanliness in Parramatta and the results have revealed an ongoing increase in the level of satisfaction. More than 70% of respondents now rate the city’s cleanliness as either good or very good, up from 64% in 2013 and 54% in 2012.

“We are working hard to ensure that Council’s Cleansing service meets the expectations of our community and this has been reflected in the overall increase in the level of satisfaction from the public.  We are looking for smart and efficient ways to introduce further improvements such as the installation of the compactor bins,” Cr Garrard said.

The ‘smart bins’ have been ordered by Council and it is expected they will be installed in Centenary Square and outside the library in Fitzwilliam Street in late April or early May.

Council is calling on local residents to help keep the streets of Parramatta clean as part of its ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign, primarily targeting illegal dumping in a number of hot spots across the LGA.

If you’d like to know more about how you can help, call Council on 9806 5544 or visitwww.parracity.nsw.gov.au/lovewhereyoulive

The blitz will continue until Sunday 10 April.

How residents can help reduce illegal dumping:

• Put your rubbish out when Council’s free clean up comes around. Checkwww.parracity.nsw.gov.au/waste for the next collection in your area.
• Report illegal dumpers on 1800 DUMPED (1800 386 733). You may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
• Get help from waste management companies if you need rubbish removed, outside of the four clean-ups provided by Council. Further information is available atwww.parracity.nsw.gov.au/waste.
• SITA Waste and Recycling Centres can receive bulky waste all year around. To find a centre near you, visit www.sita.com.au  or call 1300 651 116. Fees may apply.
• Consider donating or selling your item before sending them to landfill.