Drunk, but honest with police

Similar bins are being trialled in other centres.

Hickmott said the Palmerston North choice was from Smart City Solutions in Australia, mainly because the bins had an open slot, so people did not have to touch a lid or a flap to open the bin to put things in.

The three sites around the city were chosen because they were all popular spots and there was potential to reduce the number of bins needed and collection frequency.

At Milverton Park, for example, there were 13 bins, and it might be possible to reduce that to one. Even then, the almost daily task of emptying the bins could be cut back to two or three times a week for the smart bin.

Hickmott said the bins’ solar panels charged an internal battery with enough power to last up to four weeks without sunlight.

Melbourne had installed 400 ‘‘clean cubes’’, which had reduced the need for rubbish collections by 85 per cent. A boozed driver turned himself into police because he felt guilty about breaking the law, a court has heard.

Damien Archer pleaded guilty in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday to drink-driving and driving while forbidden.

He was driving around Palmerston North on the night of February 2 when he parked outside the police station on Church St.

He was breath tested after talking to police, and returned a reading of 761 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.

Duty lawyer Mark Alderdice said Archer stopped outside the city’s police station because he knew he had done something wrong and ‘‘wanted to put it right’’.

Judge Lance Rowe said Archer, who had no previous convictions, was an obvious danger to anyone on the road.

A fine of $800 would usually apply, but the judge kept it at $400 due to Archer’s limited means.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months.