Talking bin vandalised days after installation

Talking bins, developed by students at Glengormley High School, were launched by the Mayor of Newtownabbey earlier this month.

The bins were placed around the borough to encourage more people to use the refuse facilities.

The bins placed in Lilian Bland Community Park, Loughshore Park, Similewater Park and at the Valley Leisure Centre were designed to talk to those using them in the hope that more people will be encouraged use bins instead of dropping litter.

However, within a matter of days it’s thought one of the bins in Lilian Bland Community Park in Glengormley was vandalised causing it to stop talking.

This week a spokeswoman for the council told the Times: “Newtownabbey Borough Council has been informed that the talking bin at Lilian Bland Community Park is no longer working.

“A member of staff has inspected the level of damage and whilst the voice box has been moved, which would have caused the bin to stop working, there are no obvious signs of vandalism.

“The council is arranging for the manufacturer to repair the bin and will be looking at an improved method of preventing the voice box from being disturbed.”

The talking bins were the result of an idea developed by Glengormley High School students during the council’s ‘Big Idea’ workshops which took place in 2010 as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Read the full story in this week’s Times...