Portlaoise's big belly bins get Laois council facelift to promote the town

Portlaoise's solar-powered compacting litter bins have been spruced up according to Laois County Council.

New Portlaoise promotional posters on cleaner bins gave the impression to some locals in the town that more bins had been purchased. Not so says the local authority of the so-called BigBelly bins.

The Council's Director of Services with responsibility for Portlaoise is Simon Walton.

"A number of the bins in Portlaoise have recently being given a ‘facelift’ and fitted with artwork to promote various characteristics of the town including high-quality urban landscaping low carbon town, a destination for festivals and the significant part that Portlaoise have played in Irish history," he said.

He listed the messages on the bins:

• A town in a garden
• Promoting a greener life
• A culture of festivals
• A town rich in history

Mr Walton said the council have operated solar-powered compactor street bins for over a decade and there are 50 solar such bins in operation in Portlaoise.

He added that as less litter collections are required to service solar-powered compactor bins, using these types of bins facilitates greater operational efficiency and a reduction in CO2 emissions for the council.

The Downtown Portlaoise traders group backed the overhaul. It said the bins offer some vital promotional space for Portlaoise Tidy Towns to promote their vision of Portlaoise as ‘a town in a garden’.

It listed some of the main benefits of the BigBelly system are:

• Keeping your town or area clean & beautiful
• Litter stays in the bin & keeps vermin out
• Solar powered compactor
• Holds 5-8 times more than a standard litter bin
• Reduction in collections
• Reduction in NoX & CO2 from collection truck
• Cloud connected for real time fullness level via app & email – lets the council know when the bin is full
• Bin your butt – a place included the bin to dispose of your cigarettes clean and safely
• Pizza box only bins – added to the town
• Recycling in the pipeline
   

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They said the recent work is done in conjunction with the ongoing implementaiton of the town's Biodiversity Plan 2023-2028.