Big belly solar bins chew up rubbish

New solar-powered litter bins which chew rubbish are being trialled for the first time in the UK.

The "Big Belly" uses the sun to power a compactor which compresses the rubbish when the bin becomes full.



The system allows it to hold up to five times the amount of normal rubbish bins and cuts emissions by reducing the number of trips needed by vehicles to empty them.

The bins are being trialled in Paignton, south Devon, and bosses at local authority Torbay Council said they have been a success in America.

Councillor Jeanette Richards said: "The solar-powered bin has been well received in America but is relatively new to the UK so we are keen to get feedback from residents as to whether we should consider rolling them out."