Bankstown to get smart solar garbage bins that tells you when they’re full

Bankstown’s rubbish collection is about to get a whole lot more intelligent under a plan to install new “smart” bins that announce when they are full.

Bankstown will trial the smart small bin sensors, with the technology to be installed before June.

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Bankstown’s rubbish collection is about to get a whole lot more intelligent under a plan to install new “smart” bins that announce when they are full.

Canterbury is already using solar-powered, public “big belly” bins, which crush rubbish as it’s deposited and then alerts Canterbury-Bankstown Council bosses when they are 70 per cent full, via a SIM card.

Four belly bins were placed in Canterbury last year, along with three small bin sensors that attach to existing bins and alert council workers when they are getting full.

Bankstown is expected to also trial the small bin sensors, with the technology to be installed before June.

The idea behind the smart technology is that it means fewer trips for garbage trucks and council administrator Richard Colley said it had been most beneficial for bins placed in outlying areas.

“Both (bin sensor technologies) enable us to check, without the need to physically attend a location, when the bins need to be emptied,” Mr Colley said.

“We have found it particularly useful in remote areas of our city.”

The trial of the smart sensor technology is lasting until 2018.

“Once the trial is completed next year, we will be in a better position to decide which form of the technology is the most cost-effective and also best suits our requirements,” Mr Colley said.