It may sound crazy, but if you find yourself wandering down Nanxiang Old Street in Jiading District, keep an eye out for a new style of trash bins on the pavement. It seems these new bins, equipped with phonetic functions, are designed to raise civilians' awareness for garbage sorting, reports Shine.
At first sight, these smart garbage disposal units may not remind you of a traditional trash bin. The talking trash bins are covered with a wooden box, allowing them to can easily blend in with other street decorations.
Comparison between smart bins and traditional bins. Image via Sohu
The smart garbage bin won't 'reveal' what it is until someone attempts to throw their trash inside. Powered by the solar panels hidden on the top, the unit automatically opens its lid and guides civilians on garbage sorting. The voice instructions are in both Chinese and English. Once the lid closes, disinfectant is then sprayed to sterilize the unit.
Image via Sohu
It turns out the talking trash bin is part of a project to promoting garbage sorting in Jiading. Currently, five trash bins have been set up across the district. More will be installed later this year, in alignment with the district's intention to enhance garbage sorting and recycling.
Jiading is not the only district devoted to this growing cause. Ever since 2013, when Shanghai introduced the 'green credit system,' over three million households across the city have registered to help sort trash. Moreover, to solve the garbage overflow issue in the city, a new house waste assessment system will be in place by 2020, including the introduction of garbage fees.
[Cover image via Sohu]
