Belfast City Council is upgrading street-cleansing operations by extending the roll-out of high-tech SMART compactor bins following a successful pilot at City Hall.

Under the plan, 20 standard bins will be taken out and replaced with 13 advanced units, three of which are recycling compactors to boost on-street recycling. The focus is on busy routes: Donegall Place (14 bins replaced), Donegall Square North (four) and Royal Avenue (two), with an additional SMART installation on High Street outside Centra.

The compactors use solar-powered compression to hold up to five times more waste than a conventional bin. Built-in sensors track fill levels in real time and alert cleansing teams precisely when an emptying is needed. Data from the City Hall trial showed collection runs can be reduced by more than 80%. By avoiding unnecessary trips to half-empty bins, the council expects to lower carbon emissions and fuel use, while enabling crews to concentrate on other priority tasks such as power washing and manual litter picking. The enclosed design also helps prevent wind-blown litter and deters birds and pests.

This roll-out forms part of a wider, city-wide litter bin infrastructure review. Alongside the SMART deployment, the council is conducting a condition survey of more than 3,000 bins to shape a long-term replacement and maintenance programme.

Councillor Fred Cobain, Chair of the People and Communities Committee, said: "We are committed to using innovative technology to provide a cleaner, more sustainable city."

"The data from our trial at City Hall was clear, SMART bins allow us to work more efficiently, respond faster to full bins and keep our most iconic streets tidy, even during peak periods."

"By replacing ageing infrastructure with these compactors, we are ensuring Belfast remains a clean and attractive place to live, work, and visit."