I follow with interest the evolution of the smart bin, that’s is a bin that can contact the collections vehicle (company) and tell them when they need to be emptied. This technology is perhaps the humble litter bins first step into the technological age. Other than wi-fi hotspots and digital signs that is.
Bin servicing is a visible and consistent service every council offers.
The public value these types of services there is no reason to hide them.
Now if you listen to the salespeople for these bins you would have them positioned right in the heart of your town, outside the main shopping centre. That’s good business for them but it certainly doesn’t get the best out of the technology for your council. Wherever you have a combination of bins the smart bin is simply creating alternating collections schedules. Real benefits with this technology is seen when they are placed on the perimeters of your town or city. At locations where bins are scarce and perhaps located some distance apart.
If technology tells you when you have to drive to the edge of town that’s a saving, that’s a smart bin. Your town centres and business districts need to see council services in action, cleaners, staff whipping down bins, servicing ashtrays and emptying bins on a consistent, visible, high profile professional collections on a reliable frequency.
Positioning easy to find, easy to use bins help the public “do the right thing”
A smart bin still needs to be part of whats called a bin network, a series of bins that together create a combined capacity and a number of disposal points through a public space. If you fall into the trap of thinking that each bin you install is a standalone entity you will have a disjointed and sporadic service.
The smart bin is at its best when used to frame a town or city, create the perimeter of your town and technology will manage your collection numbers allowing more time for your high quality services to be visible in your town centres. Smart technology is only as good as the strategy behind it and if you’ve invested in the future make sure it’s a future that’s doing something for your town or city.
Smart bins can be an element of your strategy but if you don’t have placement strategy your town will be looking at everything in the singular. Looking at bin locations and the consistent spread of disposal options (bins) through your open spaces is the right way to deliver services to people moving through public spaces.
If you were building a new BBQ and picnic table at a riverside park would you think its smart to make the BBQ and table six times bigger so more people could use it? Or would you be looking to spread the services across the area so different groups can use the services at places through the area.
Smart is only as smart as you make it when installed correctly.
This posting is not a shot at the bins or the technology, its about explaining how you can get the best from those bins for your town or city over a longer period. As with all the postings happy to discuss or explain these in more details, please just contact the email paul@binscreens.com.au