CLARENCE City Council is believed to be the first Council in Tasmania to trial solar powered compacting litter bins, commonly used in New York City, at two sites within Clarence.
The Big Belly Solar Bins use solar powered electric motors to compact the litter, which provides an increase of up to 80 per cent in bin capacity.
Rowena Brazzill of Cambridge tries out one of the bins. Photo courtesy David Bellamy
The increased capacity has many benefits including reduced likelihood of overflowing bins in peak usage times, which reduces environment and amenity concerns. The bins also require less frequent collections, which leads to reduced operating costs.
The two sites to be trialled are Bellerive Beach Park near the picnic tables and in Rosny Park on Bligh Street near the junction with Bayfield Street. The Bellerive Beach Park bin is already in operation and the Bligh Street bin will soon be installed.
The sites were selected as there can be overflow problems at peak summer times with a high level of take away food cartons, particularly at Bellerive Beach Park.
Big Belly Solar Bins are currently imported from the United States of America where they are used extensively in New York City and Philadelphia. If this trial is successful, additional units of this style may be purchased by Clarence City Council as a part of an ongoing litter bin replacement program.
