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How smart is your waste bin?

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Written by: Alexa Stone

Each year, another 1.3 billion tons of waste are added to this planet, and that annual amount may more than double by the end of the century.

The 4% of the world’s population in the United States produces more than 30% of its waste. Americans, on average, produce 4.6 pounds per of trash every day. In 2014, that meant an accumulation of 258 million tons. 89 million tons were recycled or composted.

Seven smart solutions

The vast and growing quantities of waste increase the need for and value for solid waste management (SWM) solutions. Several companies offer new components and software systems in varied configurations. In alphabetical order are seven companies and the smart solutions they offer.

AcoRecycling

One way to increase plastic and glass container recycling is to pay consumers for them. AcoRecycling manufactures Reverse Vending Machines to be placed in transport centers, workplaces, shopping centers, parks, and schools. They also offer waste containers to be installed underground or semi-underground. They source end-to-end solutions for waste removal, including ultrasonic sensors, cloud data services, and a user portal that can be accessed from onboard waste removal and recycling trucks.

Bigbelly

Bigbelly offers a software platform, CLEAN™, enabling real-time and long-term decisions about an organization’s waste collection. The software includes system setup, management, monitoring, and optimization tools, all accessible via web and mobile apps. The company also offers solar-powered, self-compacting smart waste and recycling bins. Those bins can reduce collections by 70 to 80%. Bigbelly systems have been installed in the U.S. cities of Boston, Los Angeles, Louisville, New York, and Orlando and internationally in Melbourne and Hamburg. In some installations, the Wi-Fi technology used to report filled waste bins also supports people-counting sensors, which can adjust the delivery of varied retail, transportation, and support services based on actual demand.

Ecube Labs

The CleanCUBE solar-powered trash compactor from Ecube Labs has 8-times greater capacity than similar bins. This can reduce collections by 80%. Within the compactors and standard bins, CleanCAP ultrasonic sensors monitor the fill level and communicate over CleanCityNetworks, all components of Ecube Labs smart technologies. Over 100 municipalities worldwide have installed Ecube Labs systems.

Enevo

Waste technology is more than a product at Enevo. The company provides services, connecting smart sensor hardware to continuous monitoring. Enevo monitors dumpster collection schedules in coordination with the client’s hauling company. This 24/7 service reveals when a container is filling up, full, when it has been collected, and when a collection has been missed. Data and analysis frequently return value through cost savings. On average, Enevo has found that 21% of sites can benefit from service level adjustments.

IBM Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Waste Management

The IBM solution is all about data. Cities and organizations with sensors or other waste management data sources can import it into IBM’s AI in waste management to optimize processes, reduce landfill waste, and enhance the efficiency of waste handling and recycling. They are using AI to analyze waste data, identify opportunities for resource recovery, and improve the overall sustainability of waste management systems. .

Nordsense

Now in its tenth year, Nordsense offers a smart solution to optimize waste collection. Their weatherproof optical sensors can be installed in waste bins of all sizes and shapes. A data communications and mapping software platform they call “the internet of trash” monitors container levels and determines the optimal route for vehicles that service the bins. Additional capabilities include scheduling, trip duration estimates and cost analysis.

Sensoneo

The Sensoneo solution for smart SWM begins with ultrasonic sensor hardware, supported by three software components. First, a management system configures the solution and monitors data from waste bin sensors. A second component, route planning, optimizes navigation and brings greater efficiency to collection. Finally, the analytics component produces knowledge out of data and becomes a key enabler of smart SWM.

Choosing the best

These smart solutions offer unique approaches to meeting SWM challenges. For each, the goal involves efficiencies to be claimed while better service is provided. It all contributes to a cleaner environment. Organizations that are considering these and other alternatives may wonder if optical sensors would be better than infrared or ultrasound. Sometimes, the vendor choice may be an end-to-end solution with robust analytics, versus attaching components to an existing infrastructure.

ecoPreserve can help by assessing the options, recommending a configuration, facilitating the implementation, and documenting and communicating change. We bring the optimal solution to communities and organizations. It’s all based on your needs, goals, and metrics.

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