A Pilot Project Using Sensors in the Municipal Solid Waste Collection of a Medium-Sized City

Abstract

Municipal solid waste collection must reach the recycling rates required by new regulations, like with the introduction of new bins to collect the organic fraction. The filling pattern of those bins is unknown, and the collection frequency and collection routes can change. Sensors can help to identify the filling degree and to reorganize the waste collection routes. Yet, equipping all the bins with new technologies can represent a significant amount of money for enterprises and public authorities. The aim of this work is to analyze the use of sensors in waste collection systems where the collection frequency is high. Bins from two zones of a town (a residential and a commercial zone) were selected, and a volumetric sensor was installed to study the filling pattern. In the first scenario, the organic fraction and the mixed waste bin were monitored. In the second experiment, data from mixed waste bins were recorded during two days of the week. Results show that the filling degree pattern is similar in all the cases and that citizens do not respect the recommended times for taking their waste out. Additionally, the cost of the sensors represents a significant amount for a medium-sized town. Although sensors can provide a great amount of information, it is not necessary to install them in all the bins but only at the points to be analyzed. This work proposes a new way to use sensors to validate and calibrate the containerization network of a town with a high collection frequency.