Cities around the world face significant challenges in waste management, with rising costs impacting municipal budgets. Although the expenditure of municipal waste collection varies widely depending on local conditions, the World Bank and various independent agencies estimated that medium-sized cities can typically pay from $50 to $150 per capita per year for waste management.
In the 2024 report “Municipal Solid Waste Cost Calculation Technical Guidelines for Low and Middle-Income Countries”, the World Bank explores how adjusting a few key factors allows cities to cut waste collection costs, yielding economic benefits and a greener planet. Five possible strategies are outlined:
- Optimize travel to disposal sites: Minimizing travel distances for waste trucks can reduce fuel consumption and save time. Implementing transfer stations can consolidate waste, cutting down on travel distances and improving efficiency.
- Hone loading times and locations: Efficient waste loading can be achieved by using containers instead of loose waste. Choosing easily accessible container locations reduces the time spent on loading, cutting operational costs.
- Change collection frequencies: Adjusting collection schedules based on waste generation patterns can save money. Areas with low waste volume may benefit from less frequent pickups, while high-density zones may need more frequent collections.
- Balance vehicle sizes with efficiency: Smaller vehicles can be more cost-effective in urban environments. They are cheaper to operate, faster to load, and can access narrow streets, offering a more efficient alternative to larger trucks.
- Improve working shifts: Shifting to two work shifts instead of one can reduce the number of vehicles needed and avoid peak traffic times, improving operational efficiency.
How can cities successfully implement one or more of these strategies? The starting point is the availability of accurate waste data, enabling cities to timely monitor garbage containers and assess where and when they should be emptied.
Based on smart sensors, a reliable wireless IoT network and a central software management platform, our Smart Waste solution is exactly what cities need to cut waste collection costs and improve the quality of the service.
Need more information about Smart Waste and how we support cities? Contact our experts today!
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