High-tech 'singing-bins' which play funk and drum and bass music are being installed at a seaside resort to encourage people to put away their rubbish. The bins are coloured bright purple, have glow-in-the-dark neon vinyl on them, feature a solar-panelled roof and have two ash trays on either side.
The bins will be on Southend-on-Sea, Essex, seafront. all summer and have smart technology, which allows them to compact waste and provide live information on how full they are. Waste management company Veolia, which funded the bins, declined to comment on how much they cost.
A spokesperson said: "Veolia is investing in this innovative trial for Southend-on-Sea to help address the problems created by littering on and around the beach. These bins are being trialled to determine their positive impact on the large-scale problem of litter along Southend-on-Sea beachfront. We will monitor their performance throughout the summer to evaluate the effectiveness of these innovative new bins and decide whether further investment is needed beyond the trial."
Local residents have said on social media that they think the bins are great 'from an environmental point of view' and will encourage children to put rubbish in the bin.
One person said: "Quite clever as kids and younger people will love the excuse to use them, may form good habits in later life for them. Let's see if it works."
Another said: "Great as this is from an environmental point of view, the music simply reminds us how much Southend is every bit the DCC."
