Smart Bins: Derby's Solution to Efficient Waste Management

Last year, we reported on a new trial of smart bins to try and improve waste collection in Derby, and now that the trial has concluded, the results show that it has been a major success. What did the trial intend to do, what is being done with the smart bins now, and why does this demonstrate the advantages of smart technologies in urban areas?

Smart Bin Trial Ends in Success

One frustration that many law-abiding citizens experience on a daily basis is the lack of bin space, whether it is at home, in the park, or at a fast-food chain. While it is recommended that rubbish which cannot be properly disposed of should be taken home, the reality is that most will either attempt to shove their rubbish into a bin or place it on top of the bin. 

From the perspective of those looking to dispose of rubbish, they haven’t littered in public spaces, opting to try and place rubbish where it belongs. Furthermore, it is not their fault if bins haven’t been regularly emptied, and the very act of finding a bin right all the wrongs of overflowing bins.

Now, I have nothing but sympathy for those who encounter overflowing bins; not only is it infuriating, but taking rubbish home is often impractical. However, bins that overflow do cause numerous issues, including attracting wildlife, making areas unsightly, and even smelling. So, for these reasons, surely local councils should order more street cleaners to regularly check bins and change if necessary?

According to the Derby City Council, the installation of sensors in 200 'hot-spot' bins has dramatically reduced the number of overflowing bin complaints made by residents and improved the cleanliness of the streets. 

Unfortunately, manpower is very expensive, and there are thousands of bins across the UK (this number is likely to be in the hundreds of thousands). Worse, not all bins are used equally, so checking a bin that is rarely used makes little economic sense. 

Recognising these challenges, Derby council launched a trial of IoT sensors into some 200 bins last November to see if smart technologies could not only prevent overflowing bins but reduce the cost burden to the local council in waste management. Now, after more than 6 months, the trial has proven to be hugely successful, with bin visits reduced by 53%, thereby providing more time to deal with bins that need emptying.

This aligns with the findings of the Derby City Council, which reported a 53% reduction in unnecessary trips to bins thanks to the smart bin technology. 

This ability to free up time also allows street cleaners to focus on other tasks, such as roadside maintenance and debris collection. When factoring in the cost of the sensors, the end result is that the sensors provide far more intelligent spending, and thus, reducing the burden on taxpayers.

Smart bins to be rolled out

With the trial demonstrating a major success, Derby Council have announced a new project that will continue to roll out more sensors. With a project fund of £200,000, city workers will continue to install sensors into public bins found in parks and green spaces, but some city bins will also be fitted with sensors to test how city bins are affected by smart technologies.

The smart bin technology utilised in Derby employs 'fill-level' sensors. These sensors are designed to monitor the amount of waste in a bin and provide alerts when the bin needs emptying. This technology is not only reactive but also predictive. It can monitor how fast a bin is filling up and use this data to predict when the bin will be full. This predictive capability allows for more efficient waste management, reducing unnecessary trips to bins and ensuring that each bin is emptied just in time (source).

The sensors, called 'fill-level' sensors, provide alerts when bins need emptying and can monitor how fast a bin is filling up (source). 

Due to economies of scale, it is hoped that by expanding the use of IoT sensors, savings from the sensor will rapidly increase. Furthermore, more bins being fitted with sensors allows for efficient route planning when visiting bins, and predictive algorithms can determine when bins will be full.

The success of the smart bin trial in Derby is a testament to the transformative potential of smart technologies in urban management and public services. As Sam Kelly, service manager at Derby City Council, puts it:

“This digital solution has enabled a smarter, leaner way of working. The future capabilities of the technology include the ability for us to make more data-led decisions – such as knowing if an area requires an additional bin or a double capacity bin to reduce littering. For example, when additional bin requests are received, a temporary sensor bin can be utilised to assess the fill level and determine if a bin is actually required. This also allows a review of the current ‘binfrastructure’ as the system can be used to see if any bins are not being used. This will help to inform where bins can be removed or relocated, so communities have ‘the right bin in the right place’. (source). ”

Sam Kelly, service manager at Derby City Council

How does this demonstrate the power of technology in urban areas

As society continues to urbanise and grow, the resulting increase in population density will make it hardware to manage urban spaces. Considering that cleanliness and hygiene are critical in managing disease spread (something which is highly problematic in urban areas), using technology to manage this automatically can provide massive benefits.

But it’s not just litter management that technology can help; everything from air conditioning to traffic management can all be automated by IoT systems spread across entire cities. Controlling building environments can help cities reduce their power demand, thus reducing CO2 production during energy production, and advanced traffic management systems can help reduce pollution levels in highly populated areas, thereby reducing the harmful effects of air pollution. 

Smart technologies could also be critical in managing crime, something which also affects urban areas. Increased use of AI in monitoring allows humans to spend more time on patrol and responding to incidents instead of viewing screens. By reducing crime, businesses are more likely to enter areas, providing services and opportunities, and investors will see such areas as lower risk.

Overall, smart tech powered by IoT devices will become necessary for future society, as manpower is simply too expensive and slow to respond to events occurring at large scales. By incorporating technology into the very streets we walk, it is possible to improve the environment, improve society, and make life significantly more comfortable for all.