The Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Victor Robinson launched ‘Talking Bins’ on Wednesday (10 October) – an idea developed by local students from Glengormley High School in a bid to make Newtownabbey a better place to live. The new bins will give local residents more than they bargained for when they throw out their rubbish; they’ve been designed to ‘talk’ in the hope that more people will be encouraged to use these fun bins!

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. The students were given the task of coming up with a big idea relevant to the theme of ‘How to make Newtownabbey a better place to live’.

The Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Victor Robinson says “The concept of the ‘Talking Bins’ is innovative, exciting and helps us at the Council to achieve one of our goals which is to make Newtownabbey Greener, Cleaner and Safer. We want people to be proud of the Borough and part of that involves ensuring that litter isn’t dropped on our streets or in our parks. Encouraging people to use bins will be much easier if there is a fun element to it and I think a lot of people will get a surprise the first time one of our bins talks to them!”

In recognition of Glengormley High School’s Big Idea, the Council presented the school with a plaque to mark the launch of Newtownabbey’s first Talking Bin at Glengormley Pavilion, beside Lilian Bland Community Park.  Further Talking Bins have been placed at Jordanstown Loughshore, Valley Leisure Centre and at Sixmilewater Park.