Smart waste bins eliminate human error from the first sorting phase, allowing recycling operations to handle materials faster and more efficiently.
FREMONT, CA: Global waste is anticipated to exceed four billion tons by 2050, more than doubling from 2016. The quick increase can be traced back to rising urban populations and consumer culture in recent decades, neither of which is expected to slow down very soon. Communities worldwide are turning to smart waste management technology and solutions to alleviate the load on the environment and waste collection services.
Learning why the current waste management systems are not working is the first step toward building efficient, long-term waste management systems. The technologies outlined below integrate the internet of things (IoT) data analytics with current solutions to identify challenges and make continuous improvements.
1. Smart Waste Bins
When left to their own devices, people rarely separate their trash into the appropriate waste or recycling receptacles. One Polish company created a smart waste bin that employs artificial intelligence-based object identification to autonomously sort recyclables into different compartments, reducing erroneous recycling sorting. The machine compresses the waste after sorting it and keeps track of how full each bin is. Smart waste bins eliminate human error from the first sorting phase, allowing recycling operations to handle materials faster and more efficiently. This can cut waste management costs by up to 80 percent while also increasing staff productivity.
Waste Level Sensors
Waste collection services are used by homes and companies all around the country to dispose of their garbage. Weekly services have been for decades, but they are not necessarily the most cost-effective alternative. Companies and municipalities can install waste level sensors in any size container or dumpster to help reduce wasteful trips to and from landfills. These devices capture and store information about fill levels, allowing collection providers to forecast when bins will need to be emptied. This also helps to avoid overflowing public containers from contaminating the surrounding region.
Solar-Powered Trash Compactors
One firm has invented a solar-powered trash compactor that can contain up to five times more waste than typical trash bins to improve collection efficiency and reduce trips to and from the disposal. To help simplify the collection process, these machines compress trash as it accumulates to enhance bin capacity and gather and communicate data on fill and collection times.
