An effective solid waste collection management system utilizing smartphone sensors
Keeping your city clean & clear (CCC)
As nations work to realize the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), efficient waste management which contributes to SDG 11 Target 11.6.1 [1] is still a major challenge for city authorities in many urban and rural areas of both developing and developed countries. Booming economies, increasing population, rapid urbanization, and changing lifestyles have greatly accelerated the rate and thus the volume and type of municipal solid waste (MSW) being generated. On the other hand, uncollected solid waste from households, commercial areas and industries is not only unattractive but unhygienic, and conducive to breeding unhealthy littering habits among inhabitants. But not all waste that is collected is really waste. In a circular economy, “quality waste” is re-used or recycled. On the other hand, municipalities with limited budgets face a dilemma on how to meet citizens’ expectations for regular and timely waste collection from all streets while implementing initiatives to reduce waste and achieve a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable community.
What’s in the bin? Uncollected and under-utilized
In India, a few smart cities have deployed Smart Bins as a solution for real-time monitoring of waste generation and efficient operations, but these have proved to be costly to maintain. Thus, there is still a pressing need for a solution that is financially sustainable, technically feasible and socially and legally acceptable. To find such a solution, smart waste management systems (SWM) need to be transparent and provide a clear understanding of the different factors that impact the operation of waste collection systems, such as, the quantity of waste being generated, vehicle utilization per ward and zone, citizens’ expectations on how the service will be managed on a daily basis, as well as provide the means to reduce operational costs and optimize resources.
