Smart Waste Management Using IoT

Cities across the United States are improving sanitation while reducing costs through smart waste management using IoT technology.

Like all smart cities initiatives, smart waste management solutions take advantage of low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to transform an essential city service with data and analytics.

Smart waste management using IoT sensors solves a number of issues that are common to sanitation departments everywhere.

Collecting trash and recycling has traditionally been incredibly inefficient. Trash and recycling bins don’t fill up at a uniform pace, yet city crews are often scheduled to visit every bin on a regular basis. This inefficiency leads to greater labor costs and higher expenses for fuel and vehicle maintenance, as well as greater wear and tear on waste collection vehicles and an expanded carbon footprint due to more frequent trips.

Overflowing bins lead to infestation, public health risks, citizen complaints and suppressed economic vitality. When trash and recycling containers are not emptied in time or are overturned accidentally or on purpose, the resulting mess and odor can quickly become a public nuisance.

Programs for smart waste management using IoT devices address these problems by giving waste management officials complete visibility into the status of every trash and recycling bin in the city. The smart waste IoT sensors embedded in each container can communicate data about:

• Fill levels, alerting crews when bins need to be emptied.
• Odors and temperatures within a container, enabling crews to proactively address problems.
• Location of each bin, allowing crews to target bins that need attention rather than visiting every bin routinely.
• Tilt status of receptacles, alerting crews when a container has been overturned.

Smart waste management using IoT technology: the benefits

By taking advantage of smart waste management using IoT sensors, cities can:

• Cut costs. By improving efficiency and sending crews out only to bins that need attention, smart waste management programs help cities can cut the cost of labor, fuel and vehicle maintenance.
• Minimize congestion. By making fewer trips, cities can reduce traffic tie-ups caused by slow-moving trash and recycling collection vehicles.
• Reduce wear and tear. Fewer trips also means less wear and tear on vehicles, extending their life and usefulness.
• Improve public sanitation. By emptying bins before they are full and addressing problems before they become unsightly messes or health hazards, a smart waste management system helps create safer, cleaner and more hospitable public areas.

Smart waste management using IoT infrastructure from Spectrum Enterprise

To take advantage of smart waste management using IoT technology, cities require an infrastructure that includes data analytics software, an IoT management platform and a network capable of handling and transmitting vast amounts of data produced by IoT devices.

With a fiber network that extends more than 840,000 miles throughout the nation, Spectrum Enterprise has already laid the foundation for connectivity that cities require to power smart city waste management solutions. Spectrum’s network offers symmetrical connection speeds up to 100 Gbps on a two-way, fully interactive digital network. Spectrum also provides the connection diversity required for smart waste management using IoT sensors: Spectrum Mobile is one of the nation’s largest LTE cellular networks, and Spectrum has more than 350,000 WiFi hotspots nationwide that will soon be capable of wireless speeds up to 1 Gbps. Additionally, Spectrum Enterprise connects homes and businesses with gigabit Internet speeds, enabling everyone in the Spectrum service area to participate in smart city initiatives.

Learn more about Spectrum Smart Cities at www.spectrumsmartcities.com.