Many residents of Dorset will have received new wheelie bins fitted complete with an electronic tag. Why we hear you say? Well, Dorset Waste Partnership say it is so residents are able to track their bin is it was to ever go missing and the tag can also be used to settle disputes between neighbours over wheelie-bin ownership.
How?
This new tracking technology involves an electronic chip carefully hidden under the moulded front lip of the wheelie bin that is used for non-recyclable waste. As the bin is lifted by the collection truck, the chip passes a special antenna fitted to the lifting mechanism which then reads the bins serial number which is assigned to a property in the street. Inside the truck there is a computer that weighs the bin, subtracts the weight of the actual bin itself and records how heavy the bins contents are on an electronic data card.
Then what?
Once the truck returns to the depot, all the information that has been collected on the round is transmitted to a hand held device and downloaded on to a centralised council computer. Each household can be billed for the amount of excess waste collected despite paying for collection service through their council tax. The new technology is aimed to enable council to fine those households that exceed limits on the amount of non-recyclable waste they put out. It is hoped that fines will act as a deterrent and will therefore inspire more people to recycle more.
Where?
It is expected that the Government will give councils nationwide the power to use this technology. There is one small issue that needs addressing; the fact that the bins are not fitted with locks. This means that other people can add waste to your bin without you knowing and you’d pick up the bill for it.
