HARLOW Council has continued its rollout of new bins with the installation of a new type of bin for the town – ones that will self-compact and even thank you for putting your rubbish into them.

Back in May the council announced that it was installing 134 new bins around Harlow. As part of this project, 6 solar-powered bins that compact the litter, so they don’t need emptying as often, and email the council’s maintenance company, HTS, when they need emptying, have been installed.

These smart bins can be found at the Essex Outdoors centre and along the River Stort towpath, at the car park at the end of Minton Lane in Church Langley, Pollards Hatch and in the town centre. These are areas of heavy footfall, where bins need emptying several times a day. Three of the bins are moveable so can be used in other areas.

Harlow now has around 780 public litter bins. All litter bins are dual use meaning dog waste can be put in any litter bin, not just dog waste bins.

Commenting on the new bins, which also include internal fire extinguishers to tackle any burning items placed in them, Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet portfolio holder for environment, said:

“These new bins really are as impressive as they sound. The technology contained within them means greater capacity for holding rubbish and less emptying is required, whereas before the bins in these areas would need emptying several times a day, as well as helping to reduce our carbon footprint.

“I visited a few of the sites where the bins have been installed with colleagues from HTS last Thursday (10 August) and they are already being well used and having a positive impact on these areas.

“With these new bins and the changes to working practices at HTS, we’re working hard to tackle litter in the town – and restore pride in Harlow.”