Solar-powered Big Belly bins eat up Islington's waste

Islington Council is installing hi-tech Big Belly bins in a pilot scheme to take a bigger bite out of recycling and rubbish.
 
The Big Belly units use solar power to compact litter so can hold up to eight times more litter than a normal bin, and email council staff when they need emptying.
 
Now under a pilot scheme 30 of the bins - which are also used in Times Square, New York - are being placed at busy recycling and litter hotspots in Islington, where street bins fill quickly.
 
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council's executive member for environment and transport, said: "We're committed to improving the environment for all who live, work and visit Islington.

"These pioneering new solar powered Big Belly bins with their advanced compaction feature and ability to send signals back to the council when full, will help to tackle recycling and waste at the busiest hotspots in Islington.

"We will carefully monitor this pilot scheme and see if 'Big Belly' bins are a helpful addition to our work on recycling and waste."
 
Islington's first Big Belly bins were installed at Nag's Head last week, as part of the council's month-long borough-wide Clean-up Islington blitz on grime.
 
Clean-up Islington tackled Nag's Head last week and is now at Finsbury Park before going to Archway and Cally Road.
 
For more information see www.islington.gov.uk/cleanup