Innovation, rubbish and sustainability are not usually concepts that are positively associated when used in the same sentence. The complementary interaction of these concepts, however, is evident in the formation of a successful company called Solar Bins Australia. The company focuses on the distribution and management of high‐tech Bigbelly solar bins manufactured in the United States. These rubbish bins contain an automatic solar powered compactor that increases the bin’s capacity by five. The bins are wirelessly connected to a central control platform that allows the operator to monitor and control the unit.

A surprising aspect of Solar Bins Australia is that the founder of the company, Leon Hayes, prefers to give the bins away for free. The company earns its money by deploying advertising on the four panels of the bin. The company also offers a full service rental option for customers who do not opt for advertising on the bins. When the full service option is utilised, the company plants 250 trees for every station deployed.

Organisationally, the company is a relatively small start‐up venture with ten staff as of 2015. They outsource their warehousing and logistics but keep their design and marketing functions in‐house. Some of the team are employed on a part‐time basis and other contract work is outsourced. The company focuses on providing fast, responsive and intelligent customer service. The company distinguishes itself in the waste management industry through their customer service, so this core function will always be kept in‐house.

The company is headquartered in Brisbane and is structuring itself for growth through establishing a regional office in Melbourne and branches in Sydney. Solar Bins Australia provides a good example of a company that embraces sustainability not only in its product offerings, but also in its operations.

QUESTION

In what way do you think that Solar Bins Australia are a good example of integrating sustainability both in products and in production? How does their structure play a role in this example?