Smart bins in smart cities: what are they?
Over the past decade, the expansion of the ‘Smart City’ has shaped and innovated our infrastructure across the globe. Just as the body’s nervous system governs how humans respond to the world, evolving technologies are empowering cities to respond to changes in their urban environments. Smart city systems include innovations in transportation, energy and infrastructure to name a few. From China to Chattanooga, Vienna to Vancouver; smart cities aim to use technology and data collection to improve quality of life, sustainability and efficiency of city operations.
Every minute, 3,825 tons of waste are produced and collected (municipal solid waste or MSW). Annually, our planet becomes home to about 2.01 billion tons of this waste. With that figure set to reach 3.4 billion tons in 30 years (a 70% increase), the need is greater than ever before for the world to ‘do better’ and work smarter in improving waste and recycling management, striving towards zero waste goals.
Which urban areas qualify as smart cities and which cities are the “smartest”, is hotly debated, with cities in Europe, the Americas and Asia regularly vying for top spot. What is clear, is that local governments around the world are embracing a variety of smart city solutions at an unprecedented rate. Famous centers of global commerce like New York City and Singapore, as well as regional powerhouses like Zhejiang Province, China, are leading the charge with their ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) technologies and promoting more efficient urban living. Unsurprisingly, smart waste management is a crucial part of this journey.
The efficiency of waste management, from generation and collection, to diversion and processing, is improving with the introduction of smart waste bins. Smart waste technologies, such as AI and sensors, can gather vital information to be analyzed for optimizing the entire process, with the long term goal of drastically reducing waste production. To explore the impact of the pioneering innovations changing our waste model, we must first understand what exactly smart bins are and how they work.
As the smart bin market continues to grow, various functions and technologies are constantly innovating. However, smart bins will usually incorporate some or all of the following features:
Better waste management = reduced costs
Smart trash cans and recycling bins are equipped with sensors that alert sanitation departments when they need to be emptied. This allows departments to plan more efficient schedules and routes, saving cities and communities time, money and energy. Emptying public trash cans and recycling bins before they’re full is unnecessary and a waste of resources: labor costs, fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles. Waiting too long, on the other hand, leads trash cans and recycling bins to overflow, which is unsightly and unsanitary.
For example, it has been estimated that the smart bins installed in Wyndham City, Australia, have reduced garbage truck trips by 80% in only six months, thereby generating both cost savings and environmental benefits.
In improving the efficiency of waste collection in urban areas, smart waste management helps to foster a circular economy where the majority of urban waste gets recycled to minimize its environmental impacts and maximize its economic value.
Behavioral Change
Studies have shown that the real-time feedback mechanisms in smart bins encourage changes in user behavior, with people influenced in becoming more mindful of how they dispose of waste. It is thought that beyond their technical prowess, smart bins empower communities to take an active role in waste reduction, increased recycling rates and guiding individuals towards better waste disposal habits.
When users see that their actions influence bin fill levels and increased efficiency of waste collection in their city, they are more likely to develop responsible disposal habits. This change in behaviour goes beyond simply using the smart bins correctly; it can inspire a broader commitment to sustainability. As users become familiar with this feedback loop, they may start to consider waste reduction and recycling in other areas of their daily lives.
Hygiene
Growing concerns about waste management, pollution and public health, contribute to the demand for innovative solutions such as touchless access. Smart trash bins are increasingly being adopted at commercial and residential level in the U.S. and Canada, owing to their use of sensor-based technology and app-based access which allows for completely hands-free use.
For instance, if left unattended by cleaning workers, conventional trash bins with no sensors may pose a significant risk of health hazards, emission of foul odors and making the surroundings uninhabitable. IoT-enabled smart bins can be programmed with a warning system, which notifies concerned stakeholders when their bins are full of trash. These beneficial features present promising growth prospects for the market.
Deploying smart bins involves meticulous network planning to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and data transmission. This includes considering network coverage, data security, and the scalability to accommodate an expanding fleet of bins.
Privacy advocates warn that smart cities and communities encroach on civil liberties. Many critics say these fears are overblown but balancing the interests of innovation and privacy will nonetheless be a key task for policymakers and the smart bin continues to shape our cities and their smart infrastructure.
The range of smart technologies which can be used to innovate the waste process, vary greatly in terms of cost.
In this journey, a blended approach which uses a mixture of smart technology alongside traditional waste bins must remain available, subject to the needs and budget available to individual areas.
It is important to note that traditional bins are now increasingly offering improved options for messaging while enabling users to separate waste into the appropriate streams.
The North America smart trash bin market size was valued at $21.2 million USD in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.3% from 2024 to 2030.
With cost optimization efforts by manufacturers, smart bins are expected to be available at affordable prices and will be increasingly adopted by a large section of consumers.
Manufacturers currently provide huge variation in the range of smart technologies available and it is the specific combinations of these technologies which directly impact price point. Where budget constraints are an issue, it is possible to select only certain smart functions and adapt traditional units with the selected technology. For example, installing a fill sensor on a traditional waste or recycling unit, rather than purchasing an advanced bin equipped with the full range of smart innovations, would considerably reduce costing as a potential barrier to entry.
North America is dominating the market of smart bins, followed by Europe and this is not expected to change in the next decade, even though all world regions will be experiencing significant growth rates according to the Smart Cities Outlook 2024 study.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, smart bins have already significantly improved recyclable waste sorting and it is estimated that they have the potential to increase recycling rates by up to 50% as technology only becomes more sophisticated. Further enhancements to smart bins include integrating greater machine learning and AI-based systems to bin units, capable of classifying and sorting urban waste; reducing the chances of contamination and ensuring that recyclable materials are properly separated. The result of this would be more materials diverted from landfills and sent for recycling, thus contributing to a more sustainable waste management future. As successfully experimented in Medellín, Colombia, machine learning techniques were combined with high-resolution imagery and GIS data to help distinguish among various types of street litter with a very high level of accuracy (up to 95%).
Increased adoption of this type of advanced comes with a caveat; that the up-front investment must remain cost-effective, scalable and durable. This is vital when considering whole cities and the return that smart waste devices can bring in the short, medium and long-term future of waste management. The focus of regional governments on smart waste management tools and rising environmental consciousness will certainly be factors driving market growth in this area moving forwards.
Eventually it is hoped that smart bins will be as ubiquitous in our cities as regular trash cans. They are transforming waste management by integrating IoT, sensors and automation to optimise collection, improve recycling rates and reduce costs. Their ability to monitor waste levels, sort materials and encourage behavioural change makes them a vital component of smart cities striving for sustainability. While challenges such as data security and cost considerations remain, the flexibility of smart waste technology allows for scalable solutions tailored to different urban environments.
Smart bins are set to play an increasingly important role in reducing landfill waste, enhancing hygiene and promoting a circular economy, as cities across the globe continue to adopt them. With further advancements in AI and machine learning, the potential for even greater efficiency and sustainability is within reach.
Smarter waste management is here to stay…
