Council to trial smart bins with solar panels at five locations

Westmeath County Council will trial the use of an advanced smart waste bin equipped with solar panels in five locations before considering them for other locations.

The local authority's position was stated after Cllr Alfie Devine called on the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District to include four solar panel compactor bins on the Square, Castlepollard in the 2026 estimates.

Solar panel compactor bins are designed to collect and contain high volumes of waste in public spaces. They feature an automatic waste compaction system powered by solar panels installed on the top of the unit.

When litter is disposed of in the bin, it falls into an enclosed inner collection container, then a waste compaction plate is activated when the waste inside reaches a certain level.

In their reply the executive said they were successful in a CLÁR application for solar compactor bins for Raharney, Fore, Finea, Coole and Multyfarnham.

They said: “The district will trial these locations and if successful additional solar compactor bins can be considered for different locations.”

Cllr Devine also raised the issue of resurfacing the footpath from the village of Fore up to the school.

He was told the local authority will consider footpath works in Fore as part of the 2026 works estimates and any suitable funding sources if available.