It Looks Like Wheelie Bins Could Be Gonners And We're Not Sure How To Feel

For years they've been a staple of every street in Britain: stoic, upright - green, brown or black. But it now seems the wheelie bin could now we under threat from a new rubbish disposal system that will neither blow over in the wind, nor be set on fire by teenagers.

Rather than putting their rubbish in bins, people living in a new estate in Cambridge are dropping it into chutes sticking up from the pavement.

Sure, it might make sense, but I'm still not sure how to feel.

Credit: Geoff Robinson Photography

The underground system has replaced 9,000 wheelie bins in a new Cambridge University district called Eddington, in the north-west of the city, reports the Mirror.

Sensors even inform bin collectors when the underground tunnels are full meaning they can be collected when they need to be collected, rather than on a traditional weekly cycle.

However, it seems not everything is perfect with the new subterranean system. Warning signs on the street-level lids say people need to watch out for falling into the 'bottomless pits' if they climb into the street-level chutes. Although that's just common sense really, isn't it?

Credit: Geoff Robinson Photography

If the pilot is a success we could follow in the footsteps of underground rubbish chambers already introduced across Europe, and roll them out across the country.

One underground bin replaces approximately 20 wheelie bins.

A Cambridge University spokeswoman said: "Underground bins are used extensively across Europe and have been installed in accordance with our own protocols and with the advice of the local authorities."

Credit: Geoff Robinson Photography

Cllr Mark Howell, South Cambridgeshire District Council's cabinet member for environmental health, said: "This is an exciting and welcome step forward in designing in waste management needs at the planning stage for new developments, and using new technologies like fill-monitoring systems to minimise the impact of collections on traffic and emissions."

Cllr Rosy Moore, executive councillor for environmental services and the city centre, added: "This significant project represents a completely new way of working with partners to collect recyclable materials and waste in an urban environment, so to see it come to fruition with this attractive system operating is very satisfying."

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: UK

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday