Nowadays, improving the quality and productivity of services linked to a circular economy system is not only a possibility, but a necessity. In this field, innovation and the use of cutting-edge technologies may offer many possibilities.
The software for environmental technologies dedicated to waste management are in fact able to interact in different levels in each sector with an integrated and vertical way, while meeting the different needs of collection centers and disposal services, as well as of individual municipalities or transporters.
Digital transformation is in fact an area that successfully applies also in the field of sustainability. Let’s see how.
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND ECOSUSTAINABILITY
Thanks to the continuous evolution of the digital field, waste management software are able to adapt today at any level, perfectly integrating the different features of planning, operation, control and administration of data. Environmental sustainability can thus benefit from management software that allow to control every data and every process, from the simplest to the most complex procedures, guaranteeing numerous advantages that bring to a better quality of life for citizens.
To give an example, among the advantages of management software for environmental technologies there are:
- real-time interaction between operators, managers and users
- faster management of data exchange processes
- better organisational planning between machines and staff
- precise control and processing in financial management
The digitisation of processes in waste management has made great strides in recent times: waste management software has improved many aspects of the management control of waste collection and disposal processes, reducing the processing time of procedures, optimising the cost-benefit ratio. Among the most interesting aspects in a complete waste management software we find:
- the exact calculation of emptying and their timing
- the possibility to map every single user
- the reporting of possible anomalies
- real-time monitoring of movements during waste collection
In this sector, the digital transformation allows to have total control and guarantees maximum reliability and transparency and it contributes to new waste management models.
SMART SOLUTIONS IN WASTE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
During the health emergency caused by Covid-19, we witnessed several problems related to waste management due to the lack of innovative solutions that could allow positive and quarantined individuals to dispose their waste. This is all part of an Italian context in which issues related to the proper collection, management and disposal of waste were already rather thorny issues. Although there are no systems that can solve the problem immediately, there are intelligent ideas and solutions that can help municipalities and public administrations to optimise waste management and meet precise waste separation targets.
Connected bins and smart bins, smart solutions for waste logistics management, smart devices at disposal and recycling facilities, cloud systems for collecting and processing data on waste collection operations…digital transformation is revolutionising waste management services, a crucial area for cities to transform into smart cities that aim to be sustainable and efficient, as well as digital.
According to a recent study by Frost&Sullivan, there are 5 digital transformations related to the use of new technologies in smart cities that are bound to create new opportunities for the waste recovery and recycling sector. Let’s see what they are:
- The use of waste tracking systems, e.g. through RFID systems and IoT sensors that can monitor the fill level of bins, the volume of materials and the quantities of paper, glass, plastic and more that are being recycled;
- The development and adoption of smart solutions, such as smart bins, smart waste trucks, robotics, apps, analytical tools and software;
- The development of innovative business models based on servitization (XaaS);
- Focusing on the consumer and their customer experience in order to build a close and interactive relationship with their citizens and involve them more actively in the collection, recycling and waste management process;
- The adoption of customised tools to drive demand for data analytics, Internet of Things technologies and the use of cloud computing.
DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN WASTE DISPOSAL IN ITALY
Some cities in Lombardy, such as Milan, are experimenting with the use of smart bins, i.e. intelligent bins equipped with high-tech sensors and capable of detecting not only the level of filling of the bin, but also the time and frequency of use.
The data collected by these smart bins is sent to softwares that analyse and process the information provided, allowing more effective monitoring and optimisation of the waste collection processes.
Other cities in northern Italy are also experimenting with new high-tech solutions. For example, connected bins are containers that use laser-optic sensors and an IoT solution to detect the fill levels of the bins. Again, this is a similar solution to smart bins, which make use of softwares capable of processing the transmitted data in an optimal way, making waste management operations more efficient.
One of the smart innovations linked to waste management control comes from Emilia-Romagna. In some municipalities of the region, access to waste containers is only possible through user identification, using apps, NFC (Near Field Communication) or RFID (health card) technologies. In fact, the bins are normally closed and their use do not involve the use of levers or pedals, but is done through digital identification that allows to control the behaviour of citizens and the quantity of waste collected.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND THE ITALIAN “PIANO TRANSIZIONE 4.0”
Systems based on the aforementioned software have already been successfully adopted by municipalities, companies and management bodies throughout Italy in response to the Transition Plan 4.0 of the Italian State (Piano Transizione 4.0), the new industrial policy focused on sustainability. In particular, the Plan provides for a greater attention to innovation, green investments for activities and design and demands three main actions:
- tax credit for investments in capital goods
- tax credit for research, development, innovation and design
- tax credit for 4.0 training
In order to be included in the actions provided by the Transition Plan it is necessary, for each body or organisation which is interested, to contact specialised and competent companies, able to support environmental software during the realisation of the necessary documentation. The future of waste management has already begun, but it goes from skills and professionalism to be carefully chosen.
The waste and recycling industry has been changing rapidly over the last decade thanks to digital transformation. Start-ups are making a big contribution in smart waste management, thus accelerating the digital transformation of the industry. With so many factors to consider, companies like IPPO Engineering, which specialises in environmental technology software, inevitably become essential technology partners in the digital transformation of operations.
