Wheelie bins could be scrapped by local authorities across the UK and replaced with 'superbins' after a successful trial in Liverpool, according to reports. The first of Liverpool's underground bins are now operational in a £1.5m scheme designed to create a cleaner waste solution for 27,000 terraced homes, in hundreds of inner-city streets, reports The Echo.
The uniquely-designed bins, made of steel or reinforced plastic, send a signal when full and are then emptied with a crane lift via a release mechanism in its base. Work is now under way to install the bins at 11 other sites around the city.
An article in The I newspaper claims that officials from as many as 90 councils may now seek to replicate the model across the UK and it is expected to be discussed at next week’s ‘Refuse and Recycling’ seminar organised by the Association for Public Service Excellence.
A source told the paper: "We’ve had queries from all over the country. The great thing is, the framework is there already, we’ve done all the heavy lifting so for others it will be a lot easier.”
The design is used in cities across Europe. Instead of each home having individual bins in the gardens, which they drag into the street on collection days, the super bins are fixed in place in the street and householders drop in rubbish - which is stored underground.
