The Big Ballot Bin™ throws leisure sector a playful alternative
An innovative bin, that went viral when it was trialled in 2023, launches today by environmental charity Hubbub. The Big Ballot Bin™ will help venues transform litter management into a playful and shareable experience by inviting people to vote with their rubbish. This bold new approach to litter prevention not only got the nation talking when it was trialled in partnership with KFC, but it slashed litter by 70%.
Whether the question is Who should have won? Traitors or Faithfuls, or who will get Christmas number 1 “K-Pop Demon Hunters or Wham?” these bins capture attention and spark conversation, while quietly delivering massive cuts to waste and clean-up costs.
Crucially, the Big Ballot Bin™ is designed as a customisable brand asset. Operators can integrate the bin into their guest experience by adding branding, bespoke colours, and campaign messaging, to turn litter collection into a marketing tool that strengthens their brand experience.
Litter costs the UK over £1 billion a year to clean up*, and it’s one of the most visible indicators of poor visitor experience. Traditional methods are failing to tackle it.
Alex Robinson, CEO at Hubbub, said: “The Big Ballot Bin™ shows what happens when you make the right choice the fun choice. Traditional enforcement often fails to change behaviour, but when you invite people to take part in something playful and topical, littering drops dramatically. We’ve seen how curiosity, conversation and competition can transform a simple act like binning rubbish into a moment people enjoy and remember. For venues and destinations, it’s proof that positive engagement can deliver real environmental impact.”
Behind the fun exterior sits smart technology. Each bin comes equipped with a remote tracking system that allows operators to monitor the vote count and collect valuable data for ESG and CSR reporting. The plug-and-play design ensures reliability both indoors and outdoors, while a 240-litre capacity makes it ideal for busy shopping centres, theme parks and stadiums.
The Big Ballot Bin™ has been trialled successfully on UK high streets through an eight-week pilot with KFC, Manchester City Council and Southampton City Council. The results showed that litter was dramatically reduced within 20 metres of each bin, with drinks litter down 70% and food litter down 60%, while the bin’s capture radius was 2.5 times larger than standard bins.
The pilot also got people talking and sharing the bins on social media, reaching 10 million people organically**. According to Manchester City Council, “people were actively seeking them out”.
Hubbub is now inviting organisations across the leisure, hospitality, and attractions sectors to become early adopters. Partners will benefit from preferential pricing and access to a full support package, including full creative customisation (branding, colours, and messaging), access to the smart tracker, and communications collaboration.
Alex added: “When we first trialled the Big Ballot Bin™, we were blown away by how much attention they received – they really got people talking and we had fun creating voting options that tapped into current trends and discussions. We’re thrilled to now bring this product to market and we look forward seeing our future customers create memorable experiences for visitors and be part of a nationwide movement to tackle litter in smarter ways.”
This innovation builds on the success of Hubbub’s original Ballot Bin™, the world’s first voting ashtray launched in 2015. Now found in over 5,000 locations across 43 countries, the Ballot Bin™ has collected more than 15 million cigarette butts and won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The Big Ballot Bin™ takes these proven principles and scales them up for general litter – delivering the same mix of visibility, fun and effectiveness.
To find out more about the Big Ballot Bin™ or to pre-order a bin, visit www.ballotbin.co.uk