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And they said IoT was trash: Sheffield 'smart' bins to start screaming when they haven't been emptied for a fortnight

To be fair, all UK cities could benefit from such a scheme...

Sheffield authorities have enlisted four companies to help improve rubbish collection and road maintenance in the northern English city through a network of sensors.

Road contractor Amey is working on the project alongside Hull-based connected cities firm Connexin, as well as the usual suspects from Silicon Valley, including Cisco and Quantela.

The idea is that connected sensors can inform when rubbish bins are full and need emptying, trees need watering, grit bins need refilling and the like.

Connexin is providing the so-called CityOS to run the system, which aims to allow more data-driven decision making and make it easier for residents to point out when something requires maintenance.

Reducing air pollution is another goal as Sheffield City Council has struggled to cut CO2 levels to meet EU Air Quality limits.

Councillor Mark Jones said in a canned statement: "By investing in this new initiative, our contractors will be undertaking fewer journeys, which in turn will result in a reduction in energy consumption, pollution and congestion, whilst ensuring our streets are kept clean and our bins are emptied using a more efficient and effective approach... those who live and work in our city should see a positive impact in their neighbourhoods fairly quickly.

"Sheffield is an ambitious and proud city and where we lead, others will follow."

Connexin's CityOS platform works with Cisco's Kinetic for Cities and the Atlantis Smart City platform from Quantela. It will be run by Amey, the contractor for Sheffield's Streets Ahead project – a £2bn scheme to improve and maintain the city's highway infrastructure. ®

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