How The City of Edinburgh Council Reduced Overflowing Bins by 50% with BrighterBins

Overview

As one of the UK’s most visited cities, Edinburgh faces constant waste management challenges. With millions of tourists, a bustling local population, and busy streets filled with businesses and events, overflowing bins had become a recurring issue.

Bins in high-footfall areas would fill up rapidly, often leading to litter spilling onto the streets, increasing complaints from residents and visitors alike. Meanwhile, collection crews followed rigid schedules, sometimes servicing bins that were still half-empty while others remained overflowing. These inefficiencies led to unnecessary costs, environmental concerns, and a negative impact on the city’s image.

To tackle these challenges, The City of Edinburgh Council partnered with BrighterBins, installing 11,000 smart sensors to optimize waste collection and ensure cleaner streets.

Challenges Faced

Overflowing Bins in High-Traffic Areas: Popular spots like the Royal Mile, Princes Street, and festival venues often saw bins overflowing before scheduled collections.
Inefficient Collection Schedules: Without real-time data, waste crews followed fixed routes, leading to missed overfilled bins and unnecessary stops at half-empty ones.
High Operational Costs: Excess fuel consumption and labor hours were wasted on inefficient collection routes.
Environmental Concerns: Unnecessary collection trips increased CO₂ emissions, contradicting the city's sustainability commitments.

The BrighterBins Solution

Real-Time Fill Level Monitoring

Automated Alerts & Mobile App Integration

Optimized Route Planning

Data-Driven Waste Management

Results Achieved

30% Reduction in Collection Costs

50% Drop in Overflowing Bin Complaints

Lower Carbon Emissions

Improved City Cleanliness & Public Satisfaction

Metric	Before Vision AI	After Vision AI
Recycling Purity	Low due to contamination	99% purity with AI sorting
Collection Efficiency	Manual, inefficient scheduling	40% faster AI-optimized collections
Contamination Rates	High, leading to disposal issues	30% reduction in contamination
Operational Costs	High due to excess trips	30-40% cost reduction with AI automation
Environmental Impact	Increased emissions	Lower carbon footprint due to fewer trips

What Our Clients Say

Council Spokesperson

With BrighterBins, we’ve turned waste management into a proactive, data-driven process. Our streets are cleaner, our costs are lower, and our citizens are happier.

Conclusion

By deploying BrighterBins sensors, route optimization software, and a mobile navigation app, Wolverhampton City Council has achieved a smarter, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable waste collection system. The success of this project demonstrates the power of AI-driven waste management in reducing costs, improving efficiency, and promoting sustainability.

Conclusion

The City of Edinburgh Council’s collaboration with BrighterBins has proven that smart waste technology can dramatically improve operational efficiency and city cleanliness.

As a result, the council is now exploring further integration of AI-powered waste solutions to enhance recycling efforts and reduce landfill waste.