I am always on the look out for something clever when I am away on holiday, other countries often have a different take on things, a more effective way to deal with a common problem. A couple of years ago we visited a car park in Parma which had bright little LED’s over each space – red meant it was occupied, green it was available. A simple but very elegant solution to a problem.
This year I had not come across anything like this until today in Florence. I have not visited this beautiful city for a couple of years and in my absence they have made quite a few improvements! Much of the area around the Duomo is now pedestrianised, a great improvement. This has given the city the ability to add in new rubbish bin systems – to replace the old ‘wheely bin’ units.
The new system has some very neat and clean hatches that sit over a sunken skip – it is very elegant and doesn’t smell or look a mess – frankly it is brilliant and something that cities in the UK would do well to copy.
