High-tech bins that compact rubbish to make room for more and send an alert to staff when they need emptying will soon be installed in parts of Bristol.
The bins are part of a £1million investment by Bristol City Council to tackle increased reports of litter, fly-tipping and graffiti.
As part of the investment, the city centre and a number of central parks will benefit from these new high tech bins which can compact litter and hold up to six times more than a standard bin.
People 'don't have to pay' at Bristol car park as 'council can't enforce fines'
The bins will also send an email alert to Bristol Waste Company when they are full and need emptying.
It is currently unknown how many bins are going to be installed but the roll out is due to be completed by the summer.
Cash will also be spent on a cherry picker to help crews access graffiti over two-metres high, as well as an electric vehicle in order to increase the number of crews removing graffiti in the city centre.
Volunteer groups are also set to benefit from the investment with schools getting 100 litter picking kits as well as graffiti removal kits being made available for community clean up events.
The funding is part of the council’s Clean Streets Campaign which was launched by mayor Marvin Rees in 2016, with the aim of making the city measurably cleaner by 2020.
Mr Rees said: “This investment recognises how important addressing littering and graffiti is to the people of Bristol.
'Keep it open for the lads' - Wetherspoons regulars have their say over closure threat
“We know that these are issues that people care deeply about, and that is why we are investing extra funds to try and clean up the city and challenge the behaviour of people who continue to think it is acceptable to treat the city as their personal bin.
“The money will support our ongoing focus on the Clean Streets Campaign and will bolster our ability to clean the city streets.
“The funds will allow us to take practical action, as well as support our engagement with local communities and schools, and strengthen our ability to gather evidence about environmental crimes.
“The Clean Streets Campaign is our response to tackling the increased amount of environmental issues that the city is facing, which is a challenge faced by all large cities.”
Mr Ress thanked Bristol Waste Company and the many volunteers across the city who have already been working hard to make the city’s streets cleaner.
Tony Lawless, managing director of Bristol Waste, said; “Keeping Bristol’s streets clean and green is a top priority for us, and this investment will give us, and local residents, the tools we need to further tackle litter and graffiti in the city.
“We know that keeping Bristol clean is not something we can do alone, and that is why being able to invest in tools for our growing team of volunteers, and litter-picking kits for every school in the city, is so important and will empower them to do more.
“Combined with our fun behaviour change campaign, we hope the investment will also encourage even more people to get involved in helping keep Bristol ship shape.”
This month also sees the Great Bristol Spring Clean taking place across the city.
Last year’s event saw more than 400 volunteers collecting rubbish and recycling from roads, lanes, gardens and parks.
This year the event is running until Tuesday, April 23.
