Council gets smart with waste

Published on 12 February 2020

Fairfield City Council has started rolling out smart rubbish bins in city centres, which will help ensure better use of collection resources and save ratepayers' money.

The smart bins have sensors that provide Council real-time data about when the rubbish bins need emptying.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said the bins are the way of the future with Council progressively making more use of smart technology across its services, including smart irrigation and lighting for sporting fields.

"Sensors in the rubbish bin tell Council how full the bins are, which means Council knows when to collect the rubbish."

"Now Council won't waste time and effort collecting the bin if not needed, but we can also ensure we always empty bins before they overflow.

"It's about using resources most efficiently when needed and keeping our rates among the lowest in Sydney," Mayor Carbone said.

The sensors also allows Council to optimise garbage trucks' routes, boosting the efficiency of collection.

Over time, the data collected from the smart bins will allow Council to place bins in the best locations by identifying high litter areas.

Council also has 15 compactor public rubbish bins across the City, which squash collected waste meaning bins need to be emptied less often.