Here we are well past a full month into 2024 and one of the things that’s been very notable in Canada is how it hasn’t been as cold as normal this winter. And hearing t
hat Toronto has banned tobogganing in the city has certainly come as a surprise as here in Ontario outdoor winter fun has always been a big thing for us. Some people don’t mind that there hasn’t been as much snow as year’s previous, but most of us know it’s not something we should be happy about. Climate change is concerning, and the waste management industry is one of the many that need to be part of addressing that concern.
We are a dumpster rental provider in Trenton and Colborne and we’re still free to do as much sledding as we please, but we adhere to the belief that we all need to be better about what we throw away and there needs to be much more in the way or recycling or repurposing. It’s a good thing that most waste disposal providers in Ontario are as stringent as they are about making sure waste goes into the channels it should when it is taken to municipal facilities, and of course we’re one of them.
Based on a recent report we had a chance to look over, this month’s blog entry here is going to be for a number of leading waste management trends that are expected to be at the forefront of the industry this year, and it should be of interest to anyone who likes to know about what goes where and why it does when ‘trash’ is created.
Artificial Intelligence
Managing waste is an extensive process with scheduling pickup, trucking, sorting and more. The massive volume of waste that municipalities produce nowadays makes the process cumbersome and creates inefficiencies, particularly for the proper recycling when applicable for items. Integrating AI into workflows automates waste management and improves operational efficiency and we are starting to see AI-based solutions that determine the optimal route for garbage trucks. The benefits of the reduced fuel usage and traffic delays is clear to understand.
Plus we may before long see AI-driven autonomous garbage trucks in operation and they will likely reduce the risk of occupational injuries to drivers. Computer vision and machine learning (ML) algorithms will be used to distinguish between different types and sizes of waste materials for better accuracy and speed of sorting, especially for plastic recycling companies. Operating conditions in hazardous waste facilities will also be monitored by AI. We will also likely see AI being incorporated into waste management technologies of other sorts, and that may factor into Colborne area disposal bin rentals too.
The OneBin from New Zealand based Arcubed is a good example of AI in recycling bin. When it detects an item, the bin automatically segregates the waste into the aforementioned categories using AI and machine vision so all eligible items are recycled properly and with less waste ending in landfills.
Robotics
Manual waste sorting has been a hugely inefficient process over decades and human inefficiencies increase the amount of trash ending up in landfills. But more and more often waste management facilities are using robotic waste sorting and industrial robots are showing a lot of promise here with sensors, computer vision, and other AI-based technologies. We are set to see better automation of waste segregation practices, and this also ensures material-specific disposal.
Angsa Robotics from Germany has made an autonomous trash-picking robot that uses AI and machine vision to identify and automatically pick up trash like cigarette butts, bottle caps, domers, and plastic scraps in public parks. It also utilizes sensors to avoid collisions as it navigates autonomously. Chinese company Clearbot are building robots that will collect waste on the ocean, and that’s something we can really get behind too.
IoT (Internet of Things)
Conventional waste collection methods have predefined routes and schedules and because of this trucks often empty bins that are not filled or ones that have been left so long they are overflowing. IoT-based waste management has the potential to change these inefficiencies and make for better civic service to residents when it comes to collecting and better processing the waste they generate.
IoT-based temperature sensors monitor the temperatures of dumpsters to prevent explosions and fires and RFID tags will be used in garbage trucks allow tracking of the location of these vehicles. This provides companies with highly relevant data that enables better decision-making and plan optimization.
IoT-enabled sensors for waste containers from Norwegian startup Sensorita use machine learning to provide users with data-driven insights into their container fleet. This allows waste management companies to cut costs and ensure efficient asset utilization.
Circular Economy
Circular waste management is something that can be easily connected to Trenton and area dumpster rentals too, as it is the kind of service where it is part of a conduit where it is important to ensure minimum waste by reusing and repurposing existing products into new raw materials or products. This allows optimal utilization of materials instead of discarding them before end-of-life, and with a more circular economic approach they reuse their production waste to create new products.
Reusable packaging containers from German startup Vytal is a good example here. Users borrow their packaging containers when required and return them after use. The startup then cleans them and puts them into use again, and these promotes less accumulation of disposable waste. Something that all municipalities should be aiming for and a measure that waste disposal Colborne providers will support too.
Advanced Recycling
We also expect to see waste management facilities integrating advanced recycling solutions like material scanners and autonomous waste picking systems into their operations for better efficiency. Increasing waste stream quality and allowing recyclers to recover more materials through mechanical recycling is very possible with this trend. The ongoing innovations in chemical recycling are exciting too, and particularly with the way it makes it possible to recycle materials without losing quality.
UK-based startup Blue Green Vision makes optical sorters for plastic recycling that use infrared light to differentiate between different plastic types like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS).
Big Data & Analytics
The implementation of big data and waste analytics advances operational efficiencies continues to be so important for the waste management industry worldwide. The data from the smart bin sensors provides insights into the frequency of bin emptying based on the locations so collection providers can identify the type of waste based on specific locations and ensure timely waste collection. This is also something that should factor into what we do as providers for disposal bin rentals in Colborne and area.
The cloud-based digital waste management information platform from Thai startup GEPP is a good example here. It analyzes waste data of companies to track if materials are recycled or not and calculates greenhouse gas emissions to enable a data-driven reduction approach.
Decomposition Technologies
Decomposition technologies are a lesser-known contributor here but there is so much to be excited about regarding them and what they’ll be able to do for repurposing organic waste. These technologies utilize natural mechanisms to break down organic materials into useful products and in some cases they will use bacteria or fungi. The resulting compost enriches the soil with beneficial nutrients and prevents soil erosion. Startups deploy composting to reduce the amount of food being thrown away.
The shift to compostable bio-based plastics to reduce plastic pollution is noteworthy here too, with innovative approaches to compostable that ensure maximum organic matter reuse, which will reduce the amount of solid waste ending up in landfills.
Blockchain
Blockchain is also going to increasingly be a part of waste management technologies in the coming years. Blockchain technology enables responsible waste management by bringing transparency and traceability to the value chain and also promotes better compatibility with environmental regulations. This allows waste management facilities to divert more waste away from landfills.
Blockchain will also be better at verifying waste management information at each step. One example will be when a company delivers waste to a carrier and places all the information in a digital document validated by the carrier. The final waste recipient will be much more confident in confirming they have received the waste and this ensures the security of transactions.
Get it right with your needs for dumpster rentals in Trenton and Colborne areas by calling Load -n – Lift first. We have the best rates and services for waste pick up and disposal and jobsite cleanup in the area, and we are able to drop off and pick up our bins so that nothing more than doing the work and filling the bins is required of you. We also have military and senior discounts, and remember that for most properties or job sites around this part of Ontario we can have your bin rentals delivered the same day.
We also have rent-to-own disposal bins available, and they continue to be a popular choice for contractors and other service providers who see the value of having their own dumpster. Get in touch with us, we’re always happy to take all inquiries customers may have for us.
