India, the seventh-largest country in the world, is still grappling with some major issues, one of which is undoubtedly cleanliness. The country generates 1.43 lakh tonnes of solid waste per day, of which only 24% is processed.
Aside from that, major metropolises in the country have been experiencing severe flood situations. And one of the factors that exacerbate these disasters include mismanaged waste. Of course, waste mismanagement is the primary reason behind the clogged drainage systems that cause flood situations in an area.
While the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission propelled the various departments to maintain cleanliness and manage waste country-wide, the path to success is still hazy.
But the question is why the road to success remains hazy?
Simply because the level of waste the country generates cannot be managed with archaic and outdated methods. There is a dire need to implement IoT-based waste management solutions.
The Indian government, like other developed markets, should resort to the Internet of Things (IoT) to address waste management and cleanliness issues. Some Indian cities (Jhansi, Lucknow, Banaras, South Delhi, Noida, Hubli Dharwad etc.) have already implemented IoT waste management solutions. However, many cities are yet to embrace IoT in support of the cleanliness initiatives of the Indian government.
There is no better time than now to implement IoT-based solid waste management systems. With IoT in place, municipal corporations can closely monitor a city’s entire waste management process and address any issues as soon as they appear.
So, what is IoT, and why is it so important?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects embedded with software, sensors, and other technologies, allowing them to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet. These devices range from run-of-the-mill household items to avant-garde industrial tools.
IoT has gained immense popularity in the past few years and has become one of the most critical technologies. It makes communication between people, processes, and things as seamless as possible. In a nutshell, the internet of things is way more intelligent than the internet.
Many companies have already started utilizing IoT to monitor, improve, and automate their business processes. And now is the time for the Government of India to discard age-old waste management techniques and utilize IoT in solid waste management.
Government departments, municipal corporations, waste management agencies, and other stakeholders should now come together to have an avante-garde system to manage waste throughout the country.
How Can IoT Help In Waste Management?
IoT in solid waste management has the potential to transform the game for sanitation authorities completely. Traditional garbage collection methods are now obsolete. With IoT in place, agencies can ensure the proper waste management process and plug the loopholes as soon as they appear.
Let’s look at how an IoT based solid waste management system can help.
Route Optimization
The automated route optimization of garbage pickup vehicles is one of the most common and most effective IoT applications in waste management operations. Unlike sanitation departments that have yet to implement IoT, the Indian cities that have already implemented IoT-based solid waste management systems are having a real good time. Their garbage collectors don’t waste time traveling to the location where there are half-filled bins. Instead, with the help of IoT, they’re routed directly to the sites with full trash bins.
No two disposal units can have the same load each day; it varies by day, week, and season. IoT waste management apps provide sanitation workers with insights into the actual fill level of various disposal units. Waste collectors get an automated route planned for them that prioritizes areas in urgent need of cleanup and avoids disposal units that still have room, thanks to a user interface that reveals all bins’ locations and fill levels. This results in a more efficient pickup process that does not take into account empty trash bins, saving fuel, time, and staffing costs.
Eliminates Issue of Trash Bin Over Flow
How tough is it to survive in an area with a bin overflowing?
Presumably, very tough!
It not only emits a toxic stench but also causes severe respiratory diseases. In addition, overflowing waste has a significant impact on our environment and ecosystem.
The problem of trash bin overflow, on the other hand, can be eliminated entirely with IoT. The information gathered by “smart” bins helps reduce the number of missed pickups. The alert is sent to the authorities if the sensors detect that the bin is full. Following that, the IoT-based waste management solutions include the specific location in the next pickup. This, in turn, increases waste management efficiency and reduces trash bin overflow.
Waste Categorization
Not all wastes are the same; therefore, they should not be treated the same way. However, categorizing waste manually is the most taxing and mundane task. Sorting and segregating waste takes a hell lot of time and effort. Moreover, the people paid for sorting the waste do not perform the task sincerely because of the nature of the task.
BUT, with an IoT-based solid waste management system, it becomes a piece of cake. It is because “SMART WASTE BINS” or “Digital Bins” are smart enough to recognize and categorize waste. These bins can sort waste into four categories: glass, paper, plastic, and metal.
In addition, these bins compress waste and notify sanitation workers when each waste category is full. So, cities that have already implemented IoT-based solutions have happy sanitation workers and benefit from efficient waste management.
Effective Data Analysis
In today’s business environment, data plays a crucial role. Most importantly, how soon you’re able to gather the data matters!
And that’s where IoT solutions come in handy when it comes to embracing technology in favor of Swachh Bharat Mission. The IoT-based waste collection monitoring systems allow authorities to have real-time data to take the right measures.
The connected devices not only monitor how quickly the bins fill up throughout the day, but they also monitor how frequently the bins in various locations are emptied. This allows authorities to track the status of bins throughout the city in real-time. They can immediately plug the gaps and act as they arise with this information.
Wrapping up…
So this is how IoT-based waste management solutions can revolutionize the cleanliness initiatives of the Indian government. Sensor-enabled and internet-connected garbage bins are what each city in India needs to have today to manage waste and accomplish the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission.
If you’re looking for a reputable company that offers IoT-based solid waste management solutions, then you’ve come to the right place. We at Convexicon create customized innovative/digital waste management solutions for government and corporate clients. We can offer you fantastic IoT-based solutions that will increase the efficiency of your operations and result in significant cost savings.