Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, plans to optimize its waste management planning and recycling efficiency through an IoT solution. The solution includes RFID technology, uniquely identifies garbage bins, their status and location; it also utilizes Sensoneo's WatchDog device for service management of trucks and a related software platform that automatically captures the tag ID number on each waste bin.

The solution identifies and reads the location of each tag, enabling data collection and management, optimizing routes, creating a "pay-on-demand" system, and ultimately reducing waste. The project began with the tagging of the city's garbage cans and 92 IoT-connected trucks.

Traditionally, as in most cities, Bratislava's waste bins have been planned for collection on a street-by-street and block-by-block basis based only on date, not on the amount of waste or the rate of waste generated. Citizens pay a fixed fee for this service, whether or not the garbage is collected from their homes. That is, truck drivers would collect garbage cans according to a schedule, whether they were full or nearly empty.

This system does not indicate which bin is in which location, whether it has been collected, and whether the bin is full of trash. This leads to biased information on certain routes and customer service, "but they're doing the best they can" with the data they have. Most cities don't know how many trash cans on a given street need to be emptied each day. Some people buy their own trash cans online to fill, but sanitation workers don't have the time or tools to confirm that each bin is authorized and paid for.

Bratislava plans to deploy a citywide system that will make garbage collection smarter and more efficient. By digitizing garbage collection and capturing service data for each bin and truck, the city hopes to collect data for every citizen. This means the system will know which citizens' bins are emptied when and whether they contain glass, paper or other recyclable materials.

Sensoneo provides 1,753 IoT sensors with ultrasonic devices to measure and monitor trash levels in bins throughout the city. The dynamic waste collection software platform includes Sensoneo's route optimization feature that helps Olo, the city's waste management provider, optimize its route planning. With this data, the city hopes to introduce a "pay-on-demand" model that will automatically detect when and how often garbage cans need to be disposed of.

The city has already applied passive UHF RFID tags to the backs of 85,000 garbage cans. A unique ID number on each passive UHF RFID tag is associated with the bin and its owner in Sensoneo's software. We put the RFID tags on the waste bins so that each bin can be uniquely identified, which makes it possible for us to track the lifecycle of that garbage can.

The UHF RFID tag is attached to the back wall of the bin, making it easier to interrogate the truck's hydraulic arm when it lifts it to dump the waste in it. As the truck's hydraulic arm lifts the bin above the hopper, the WatchDog device's RFID reader captures the tag's identification information. This data is then transmitted to cloud software via a cell phone or other IoT connection. This allows us to know exactly when the garbage collection event occurred and whether the bin was paid for and due for collection. The system can also determine if the truck is doing the correct job according to its schedule.

If Bratislava were to adopt a pay-per-volume purchase model, each citizen would pay a fee associated with the number of garbage collections for each bin in their home. The city could then charge for each garbage collection event. For example, users would only place their garbage cans on the street when they are full and would pay less for fewer collections. In this way, the system provides an incentive to reduce overall waste consumption.

However, the city wants to use accurate data on the amount of garbage collected to optimize its collection routes. For example, Technology's route optimization module will help drivers choose the most efficient route based on where the trash cans need to be emptied.

Next up are Sensoneo's ultrasonic IoT sensors, which are installed in trash cans to track trash levels. These devices send ultrasonic waves to the bin and measure the response to calculate how full the bin is, indicating the height of glass or other debris in the bin. This data will help further optimize the route. Often, empty trash cans at residential or commercial locations do not require collection, while full ones need to be collected more quickly. By reducing the frequency of emptying bins, the system can reduce trucking time and improve its collection efficiency. In addition, trucks consume a lot of fuel, so optimizing routes based on where bins need to be collected can save on fuel costs. This means that trucks don't have to drive in directions that aren't necessary - trash pickup routes are predictable. In the long run, the city can start planning for future garbage collection in addition to considering seasons or holidays.

In addition, GPS tracking during collection will allow Olo to see if the bins have been moved to a different location. The testing phase of this technology will continue over the next two years. in 2023, the data collected will be used to plan and adjust different efficiency parameters and reported to the city. This system will provide us with the tools we need to understand in real time the impact of changes in recycling programs on recycling.

The project is part of Bratislava's strategy to transition to a circular economy by 2026. The city hopes to achieve savings in terms of miles and emissions associated with waste collection, a fully transparent waste process, and early intervention in the event of overfilled bins.