Berlin, March 31: Rubbish bins in Berlin will soon talk and sing to people who deposit their waste.

In an attempt by the German capital to encourage citizens to keep it tidy, a select number of Berlin’s 20,000 bins are to be fitted with solar cell devices which will react with a “danke” or “hallo sweetie” when something is thrown into them.

The bins’ voices will be replaced by flashing green lights to avoid scaring night-time rubbish disposers.

“The bin is the main protagonist in our efforts to raise people’s awareness of the litter problem,” said Bernd Muller, spokesperson for the Berlin cleaning service.

“The bins should demonstrate that Berlin is a modern city and we are a modern service provider.”

City officials say the volume of litter on the streets has risen in line with the growth of poverty.

But some councillors have expressed annoyance with the initiative when Berlin is bankrupt.

The city is more than £30 billion in the red and is closing swimming pools and turning off fountains to save money to help pay the interest on its debts.

Muller did not disclose the price of the bins, but insisted in the long run they are a cost-effective measure.