16/02/2023
Ta’ Xbiex Local Council invested in solar powered smart bins with the funding it managed to attain from the Norwegian Funds. These solar powered smart bins compress waste to reduce it in size and therefore enable more waste collection. In addition, the solar powered smart bins are equipped with sensors indicating when the bins are full which triggers an auto-generated notification to the Council which indicates which bin stations would need collection, thereby eliminating overflows and unnecessary collections.
To further enhance the environmental aspects of the locality, the bins will be powered through solar energy. The Ta’ Xbiex seafront promenade is exposed to numerous hours of daily sunlight which is ideal since these solar powered bins should be free from overhead interference, providing direct sunlight for solar battery charging.
The Smart bins project will eliminate the overflow of visible waste, windblown litter and access for critters. Furthermore, due to the fact that collections of waste will be reduced, there would be less refuse trucks on the roads, effecting daily traffic, reducing carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, fuel usage and noise pollution. In total it is estimated that the solar compactor will save 75% on collection costs and 80% on waste collection.