Ten solar-powered, "speaking" garbage bins appeared at People's Square recently, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The bins use solar energy to provide power for the electronic voice, which is activated by a button, that tells pedestrians where the closest two toilets are. The solar energy also provides power for a map on the top of the trash bins which lights up at night, Oriental Morning Post reported.

The map shows surrounding roads and public facilities, the report said.

The report did not say how much the garbage bins cost.

A total of 480 such trash cans will also be placed on Nanjing Road, at the Bund and other main streets, according to the Huangpu District Sanitation Bureau.

The bins are also easy to see at night. They are the first solar-powered garbage bins in the country.

(Shanghai Daily January 23, 2009)