The Purpose of Waste and Recycling Data

Cities around the world are utilising ‘smart city’ services, taking big data to a whole new level. Street devices such as lights, bollards – even rubbish bins continuously collect large volumes of data. This data offers valuable insights into how people interact with their cities on a daily basis.

We know fill-level monitoring systems detect rubbish bin fill-levels in real time – bridging the gap between unpredictable litter bin fill-levels and better user experiences, diminishing operational costs and reduced environmental damage. But what other benefits come from utilising Farsite’s smart sensors?

Top 5 Reasons for Installing Smart Bin Sensors:

1. Stop Complaints from Overflowing Bins
One of the most frequent complaints councils and facility managers receive is overflowing bins. Waste contractors regularly empty public area rubbish bins. However, the current model relies on members of the public reporting overflowing or damaged bins.

The real challenge is the unpredictability of bin levels, especially during events and busier times of the year. Farsite’s sensors send alerts when close to capacity, allowing you to organise collection within the hour -avoiding complaints and expensive litter clean ups.

2. Reduce Illegal Dumping
The illegal dumping of waste can cost millions of dollars in tax payer’s money each year to clean up. Commercial companies often use public area bins as a dumping ground, to avoid paying additional waste removal fees.

Unusual spikes of activity in the sensor data, such as bins regularly reaching capacity in low foot traffic areas, or abnormal night activity could be indicators of illegal dumping. Conducting an in-depth analysis to pinpoint the exact locations will allow for further onsite surveillance to catch the perpetrators.

3. Manage Waste Contractors
Effectively manage waste contractors with Farsite’s smart sensors, in conjunction with netBin’s web based application, HUB. HUB gives you a comprehensive overview of your networks status, allowing you to monitor waste contractors performance.

High quality historical data gathered from past waste collection activities also provides accurate statistics useful for negotiating a more efficient collection service in future waste contracts.

4. Make Smarter Decisions
Optimise services by using historical data to plan for organised events, such as festivals and identify behavioural elements that may be spontaneous or uncharacteristic. By anticipating events that in the past may have been unforeseen, you now have the capability to react to events accordingly and allocate additional waste bins or servicing in public parks and facilities.

Farsite sensors also allow you to monitor the efficiency of your existing services; identifying locations that are under or over capacity, service frequency – even highlight new growth areas that are in need of additional services. Tracking these improvements over time will deliver key insights.

5. Improve Efficiency of Waste Collection
Traditionally waste contractors regularly target every rubbish bin on their route regardless of the bins being full or empty. However, problems arise when bins overflow, are in remote locations, or when accessibility is difficult.

Farsite’s sensors convey fill-level information in real-time directly to operators. Monitoring your network of bin surrounds in real-time gives you the ability to plan optimal waste collection routes ahead of time, targeting only those areas with full rubbish bins. This not only greatly reduces the risk of overflowing bins but also operational costs and environmental damage.

Good data collection means collecting data that is relevant, credible and informative. Unreliable data can inhibit planning better integrated, more sustainable waste management strategies. Farsite’s fill-level monitoring sensors allows you to monitor the progress of your waste strategy and aid future decision making processes.

Contact us if you are interested in Farsite’s netBin suite, or for any other custom waste management needs.