The intelligence reaches the waste bins of Barcelona. The City Council is installing a dozen la mar de smart units in some of the busiest points in the Ciutat Vella district, especially in La Rambla, and also in Plaza del Mar, Comercial, Sant Miquel, Vicenç Martorell... .
The municipal technicians detail that they are devices with a self-compaction system of waste powered by solar energy that multiplies the storage capacity up to five times more than a conventional trash can of around 70 liters, which makes it possible to significantly reduce emptying frequencies , and the mouths of which are specifically designed to prevent rats, pigeons and seagulls from plundering them, and also so that if someone puts their hand in it, it does not get stuck. The hermetic nature also prevents odors from spreading. In addition, they have a warning system to warn municipal garbage collectors that they are approaching the limit of capacity.
The municipal technicians also detail that they found the first models of this type of bins in New York a few years ago, as a weapon in the city's fight against the proliferation of rats, and that, due to closer latitudes, the city the one that opted for this system the most is Madrid, which has already installed around 1,500. In principle, the useful life is close to ten years.
If the results of the pilot test are satisfactory, the new bins will soon be extended to many other parts of the city, especially the busiest ones. The initiative is part of the hyped Endreça Plan, a set of emergency measures intended to take care of Barcelona's public space. In reality, the Endreça Plan is one of the main priorities of Mayor Jaume Collboni's government for this mandate. A few days ago the City Council is replacing the usual 1,500 waste bins in the Ciutat Vella district with ones of greater capacity. He also installed others specially designed to prevent seagulls from sticking their heads in. The renovations do not involve any extraordinary municipal expenses, as they are part of the new municipal cleaning contract. Today we see one more step. Mayor Collboni is well aware that the images of overflowing garbage that ran so much on social networks last term became a cumbersome obstacle for the then mayor Ada Colau.
La Rambla will add up to four smart devices, two at the top and another two at the bottom. The municipal garbage collectors empty the bins on this promenade about fifteen times a day, especially during the highest peaks of the tourist season. It is also relatively bulky waste: cans and bottles, ice cream tubs, ready-made food containers... And so the emptying is delayed a little or, instead of two cruises, they arrive three, the trash cans on the Rambla of all life overflow and form disturbing still lifes. The municipal technicians are confident that the garbage collectors will not have to empty the new smart bins with self-compacting system located on the busiest promenade in the city more than a couple of times a day, which will allow them to attend to other tasks. "There's never a shortage of work." In addition, in this way, the traffic of cleaning vehicles will also be reduced. In less than a second, living in Barcelona will be like living in an episode of The Supersonics.
