We need to get better at managing waste. You may think that we’re already on top of the waste problem – businesses are using more recycled materials and encouraging further recycling and reuse. Or you’re carefully separating your own waste so that it can be collected at the kerbside for municipal recycling. Or maybe you’re seeing reports about new ways of using waste to generate other products, such as electricity.
It’s true that all these things – and more – are happening today. But it’s also true that we continue to produce waste. Growing populations, consumer demands and a culture that’s build around ‘stuff’ means that we are still buying millions of new products every year, and throwing away much of their content. So, how can we be smarter about managing waste.
The growing waste mountain
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), total global waste is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. The impact of this waste has a cost – not just the financial costs of removing and managing it, but the human costs of not doing it well enough.
The UNEP estimates that the global direct cost of today’s waste, including the costs of poor health, pollution and climate change, is $361 billion. This is set to rise to more than $640 billion unless we change the way we do things.
Most importantly, the UNEP’s report Beyond an age of waste: Turning rubbish into resource, published jointly with the Solid Waste Association, says that a transition to a circular economy model could result in a gain of $108.5 billion per year.
So there’s a lot at stake here, and technology certainly has a part to play.
Smarter waste management
Consumer behaviour and waste habit changes are certainly part of the story. But the way we collect and manage waste is at the heart of reducing landfill, improving the state of our soil, water and air quality, is fundamental.
Smart Waste Management covers the whole waste process – from the containers we fill to the materials we reuse. It uses the latest technologies to help waste and recycling companies support both commercial and public bodies to meet best practices in this area. Examples include:
Waste bin sensors – these allow waste companies to see when the bin is ready for collection. So instead of being out on the road every day, potentially covering rounds where bins are less than half full, waste companies can focus on collecting the bins that are full. This makes the collection process more efficient and cost-effective.
Pay-as-you-throw – sensors can also help to change behaviours. In cities and towns that operate a pay-as-you-throw system, bins are weighed and consumers charged for what they throw away. Research has shown that this system influences people’s buying and waste behaviours because there is a clear consequence for throwing waste away.
Route management – for waste management companies, the process of collecting waste is expensive. Companies have to run a large fleet of expensive vehicles, with all the fuel, maintenance and insurance costs they incur. The longer those vehicles are on the road, the more they cost the business. Smart route planning can be transformative for these businesses, making the most efficient use of your fleet.
Reporting and compliance – smart waste management integrates data from across the business, and this is vital for reporting. Not just for the waste business itself, but also for its clients, who face increasingly detailed waste compliance requirements. Being able to report in detail allows waste management companies to offer an additional value service to clients, helping them to gain a competitive edge in the market.
If your business needs to improve efficiency, offer value-added services to customers, enhance compliance and reporting and build a profitable secondary market in recyclable or reusable materials, you need to talk to ISB Global today about how smart technology can give you the advantage you’re looking for.
