Sensor-Based Solid Waste Handling Systems: A Survey

Abstract

As a consequence of swiftly growing populations in the urban areas, larger quantities of solid waste also form rapidly. Since urban local bodies are found to be unable to manage this perilous situation effectively, there is a high probability of risks relative to the environment and public health. A sudden change is indispensable in the existing systems that are developed for the collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste, which are entangled in turmoil. However, Smart sensors and wireless technology enable cyber-physical systems to automate solid waste management, which will revolutionize the industry. This work presents a comprehensive study on the evolution of automation approaches in solid waste management systems. This study is enhanced by dissecting the available literature in solid waste management with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), and Internet of Things (IoT)-based approaches and analyzing each category with a typical architecture, respectively. In addition, various communication technologies adopted in the aforementioned categories are critically analyzed to identify the best choice for the deployment of trash bins. From the survey, it is inferred that IoT-based systems are superior to other design approaches, and LoRaWAN is identified as the preferred communication protocol for the automation of solid waste handling systems in urban areas. Furthermore, the critical open research issues on state-of-the-art solid waste handling systems are identified and future directions to address the same topic are suggested.

Comparison of different waste bin monitoring approaches: An exploratory study

“…In the SS monitoring approach, there is a considerable investment to make as the cost of each individual sensor is high (around 100€–200€, according to Beigl et al, 2005 ; Vishnu et al, 2022 ), and locating them in the large number of bins that often characterizes waste collection systems implies a high investment (e.g. ERSUC owns around 15000 bins, representing an investment of more than 1.5 M€).…”

“…Prior studies on waste bin monitoring solutions focused mainly on sensor’s systems, namely on the characteristics of the technological devices included in such systems and how accurate they are. There is a rich body of research on bin sensor systems, acknowledged by two recent surveys ( Sosunova and Porras, 2022 ; Vishnu et al, 2022 ). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no prior study addressing a comparison between automatic monitoring through technology and human monitoring.…”

“…One is the installation of smart sensors in bins, coupled with route optimization techniques ( Gutierrez et al, 2015 ; Medvedev et al, 2015 ; Murciego et al, 2015 ; Ramos et al, 2018 ; Shah et al, 2018 ). However, sensors are not cheap (the market price of commercially available sensors can be one to two orders of magnitude ( Beigl et al, 2005 ; Vishnu et al, 2022 ) and can require a considerable investment from municipalities, which are often responsible for hundreds if not thousands of bins. The other approach relies on robust and adaptive models for predicting fill levels ( Ferrer and Alba, 2019 ).…”

Demonstration of a contactless waste collection system: A Japanese case study

“…It may require some time until elements of contactless collection systems mature, but experiments, simulations, and demonstration projects are taking place around the world [20, 21, 54, 55]. The present study contributes to these global efforts to create a safer environment for a waste collection labourer and a more sustainable waste management practice.…”

Holistic Trash Collection System Integrating Human Collaboration with Technology

“…Vishnu et al [20] examined various technological strategies for solid waste management within smart city contexts. The literature is classified into three key categories: RFID, WSN, and IoT-based methodologies, with IoT-based systems emerging as the most effective among them.…”