By Joe Powell – Key Account Manager, Field Service UK&I for Panasonic TOUGHBOOK

For many of us, remembering which day of the week to put the bins out and separating our rubbish from the recyclables is the most we ever have to think about waste management. When it’s working, we take it for granted. It only really comes to the forefront of our minds when there is the occasional strike and rubbish starts to pile up in the streets, or if we forget to put our bins out in time.
But across Europe, waste management is a huge issue. Incredibly, 5 tonnes of waste are produced by the average European each year, only 38% of waste in the EU is recycled and, in some countries, over 60% of household waste still goes into landfill. The EU has set out ambitious policies to reduce this burden, aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050. But as waste management is often under the control of already budget-pressured local authorities, the success of this target depends upon more effective and efficient collection services.

This is one area where technology can help. For many years, the bin collection round didn’t change radically. The waste collection crews followed the exact same route and collected the bins on the same day each week. But more recently, the introduction of smart software applications and mobile computing technology is starting to revolutionise waste management.

ALLOY – Connected Asset Management Platform

The latest in-cab waste management technology can provide waste collection crews, operational supervisors, and call centre staff with an overarching view of any issues in real time, helping communication and collaboration. For example, rugged tablets equipped with YOTTA’s connected asset management platform, called ALLOY, provide an ideal solution for waste management service providers. The system has the capability to track and effectively manage waste collection services and the in-cab software tracks live progress and communicates with collection crews, streamlining waste collection and reducing complaints.

Sensor and control technologies, when connected to ALLOY via the Internet of Things (IoT), can add another layer opportunity for improved service delivery. For example, local authorities are increasingly relying upon fill-level sensors, geo-location tracking, Bluetooth beacons and automatic location sensing to provide crucial data that will optimise and streamline their waste management services.

Of course, this intelligent software can only work effectively if the computing devices being used by the waste collection crews are reliable, and that’s no easy task. Waste management creates a difficult working environment for computing technology: dust and dirt, extreme weather conditions, knocks and scrapes and vibration are all common problems that can quickly destroy the average tablet device. For these reasons, rugged technology like Panasonic TOUGHBOOK tablets are ideal partners for use with YOTTA’s intelligent applications. Rugged from the inside out and engineered to withstand the conditions found in a waste management environment, the TOUGHBOOK devices are highly configurable and customisable to fit these specific needs. For example, if looking to use the IoT, TOUGHBOOK devices can integrate sensors, cameras, barcode readers, HF-RFID readers and more. The bright and responsive touchscreen displays are comfortable to use – even in the rain and sun and with reflections from the truck windows and while wearing gloves.

It’s clear that today’s technology solutions can radically change the service provided, making local authorities aware of waste collection issues in real-time and helping them to resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

It’s great news for the planet, local authorities and for residents too. Now remind me, is it recycling or rubbish bins out this week?