Sharjah garbage bins to offer Wi-Fi

Abu Dhabi - Trash bins will be powered by photovoltaic panels and feature smart sensors.

Hundreds of trash bins powered by solar energy will be placed in some of the most crowded areas in Sharjah.
Beea'h, a solid waste management company, is introducing solar-powered Wi-Fi bins in the emirate. The bins will be powered by photovoltaic panels which will provide electric power to the router to beam Wi-Fi signals around a 40-metre radius.
The innovative smart bins will act as Wi-Fi hotspots. They will be equipped with sensors which can detect when the bin is full, and communicate with the Bee'ah control room, allowing its teams to make the necessary collection in an efficient and eco-friendly way.
The solar panels provide the energy required to operate the compactor, which allows the bins to collect five times more trash before needing to be emptied.
Beea'h is expected to introduce this facility in the coming months. Initially, students of University City and residents of Al Qasba area will benefit from the Wi-Fi hotspots.
Later, families and joggers on Sharjah's waterfront, parks and commuters waiting at bus stations will be able to connect to the Internet through this facility, said Mohammed Al Hosani, managing director of Tandeef, Beea'h's waste collecting unit, which collects solid waste from Sharjah and parts of Dubai.
Asked when the entire emirate of Sharjah would be connected to smart Wi-Fi trash bins, Al Hosani said he wanted to place an order of 1,000 to 2,000 bins. But there is not enough manufacturing capacity to cater to the demand.
London and New York installed similar trash bins last year.
The cost will be recovered from advertising revenues while telecom partners will provide the service free of charge.
The project is part of the Smart City initiative of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
This will make Sharjah the first city outside Europe and the US to have smart bin technology benefiting consumers.
Salim Al Owais, chairman of Beea'h, said: "The smart Wi-Fi bins being introduced by Bee'ah are a step forward in environmental innovation, optimally merging efficiency and utility."
The fact that Sharjah will be the region's first location to offer the smart bins is a testament to our emirate's growing status as an environmental capital of the Middle East, he said.
"This technology is part of an innovative suite of ground-breaking products and services we are in the process of rolling out, in line with the innovative vision of His Highness Shaikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future," he said.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah