Sensors detect bin blazes and levels of litter

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, with Andy Moore, the council's public realm team leader, said it was a good use of technology

Hundreds of sensors are to be added to public litter bins in Wolverhampton to prevent overflowing and reduce unnecessary trips to empty them, the city council says.

The 700 sensors have a temperature gauge to quickly alert staff if any bins catch fire, and they track how quickly the bins fill up, enabling staff to identify trends to create more efficient waste collection routes.

The project has been paid for with £101,000 of external funding, with the sensors being securely fitted in the next week.

The council said the "targeted emptying" will save money on staff rounds, helping to reduce its carbon footprint by lowering vehicle emissions.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services, said it was a good use of technology for the city.

"The sensors will allow us to monitor bins across the city and make sure we can quickly deal with any that have been overfilled," he said.

"They will also help us to provide a more targeted and cost-effective emptying service that is better for our environment.

"By using the data provided by the sensors, we can continue to target resources where they are most needed and make sure we can keep our city clean for residents, visitors and businesses."