Some of us are used to the convenient lifestyle our modern and connected lives afford us. But not everyone has the privilege to access to free internet in cafes or shopping centres. Last winter, a smart bins company in NYC created a project and turned trash cans into (today’s version of) gold – free WiFi Hotspots for households in downtown Manhattan.
Bigbelly, a waste management company, last year introduced two WiFi-capable bins that offer internet at 50 to 75 megabits per second and is looking to expand its fleet of smart bins.
Bigbelly’s garbage bins are very “SMART” already, having created trash bins that are solar powered, have sensors to detect how full and smelly they are, notify trash collectors when it’s time to empty them, and some can automatically compact the trash when they’re getting too full. Adding WiFi to garbage cans on the street means wireless signals aren’t blocked by tall buildings because they’re down at ground level and in the open.
Head to Bigbelly’s website for more info.
