Sydney’s first underground system cleans up

SYDNEY, Aug. 12 -- An innovative trial of underground communal rubbish chutes is helping put an end to illegal dumping and unhygienic spills while providing a better waste experience for Darlinghurst residents in Sydney, Australia.

The new system, installed in Royston Street, replaces an unsightly, cluttered bin bay with new recycling and waste chutes linked to an underground storage system.

Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said underground waste was a space-saving solution for high density living that has significantly improved amenity and accessibility for local residents.

“Previously residents in this small street battled with an overcrowded bin bay that attracted dumped rubbish from non-residents and quickly became an eyesore," she said.

“Underground waste systems have been used in other cities round the world and are proven to be an effective means of managing waste in high density areas with limited bin space," she said.

Jarrah Hoffman-Ekstein has lived on Royston Street for seven years and said she is delighted with how the street looks now.

“Our bin system has been a problem since I moved here. It's a densely populated enclave and the garbage system was completely inadequate so the bins were often overflowing, smelly and popular with rats. The new underground bin system is a great initiative from the City of Sydney, it has transformed our street,” Ms Hoffman-Ekstein said.

Three bins are available for general waste and two for recycling, with an option to change the mix depending on the amount of rubbish and recycling required. Designated recycling and general waste will lead to the underground bins.