Establishing A Waste & Recycling Baseline Using Smartbin.io

It's no secret that we have a waste problem. Every year, the average person generates 4.4 pounds of waste daily - that's a lot of garbage! And while recycling is one way to help reduce our environmental impact, only 9% of all the waste generated in the United States gets recycled. We need to do better.

When it comes to waste and recycling, one of the first steps municipalities and businesses need to take is establishing a baseline. This baseline provides a starting point to measure progress and set goals for waste reduction. There are many ways to establish a baseline, but one of the most effective is using Smart bin sensors. Smartbin sensors can be attached to waste bins to track how full they are. Sensors allow you to measure the amount of waste generated and the frequency that bins are being emptied. 

What are smart bins, and what do they do?

Smart bin sensors are small devices attached to your waste or recycling bins. Using these sensors, they can assess the amount of waste generated and when the bins should be emptied, providing valuable information. This information can then be accessed via a web-based software, allowing for real-time monitoring and efficient waste management.

How does using smart bin sensors help businesses?

Smart bin sensors provide businesses with real-time waste data, allowing sustainability teams to better understand waste & recycling generation. Additionally, by monitoring the fill levels of bins, businesses can ensure that they schedule pickups at the appropriate times, preventing overflow and potential fines. Overall, implementing Smart bin technology can lead to a better understanding of where waste and recycling is being generated and provides the baseline from where your sustainability programs can flourish.

What makes smart bin sensors necessary?

The biggest problem with commercial buildings such as airports, stadiums, and shopping centers is that they produce a large amount of waste and recycling. Sustainability teams are tasked with the goal of reducing waste generation and increasing quality recycling. Not only are there cost savings in having lower waste diversion rates but there are a slew of benefits for your organization's brand when it comes to ESG. Currently, our waste and recycling bins are just dumb boxes in which we through our refuse in. Here are some of the reasons why smart bins are the future of how we manage our waste and recycling indoors and why we believe it will aid in bringing data to the root of how we tackle the problem.

1. Sustainability Teams Are Currently Working In The Dark.

Sustainability teams work without a clear understanding of how much waste and recycling is being generated every single day/week/month, which makes it difficult to create effective waste management programs and track progress toward sustainability goals. This data can easily be accessed and analyzed with smartbin.io sensors and bins. By monitoring bin levels in real-time, smartbin sensors can alert staff when bins need to be emptied, resulting in less overflow and improved sanitation. Overall, smartbin sensors provide a necessary solution for effectively managing waste in commercial buildings and reducing their carbon footprint. Implementing these sensors can lead to improved sanitation, and progress toward sustainability goals.

2. Smart bin sensors help them establish a baseline to work from.

Establishing a baseline is crucial for tracking progress and setting goals in waste management. Without data on current waste levels and disposal patterns, it is not easy to make informed decisions and set realistic targets for improvement. Smart bin sensors provide this necessary data, allowing teams to establish a starting point and track their progress toward sustainability goals.

3. They facilitate participation in waste reduction initiatives.

Many cities and organizations have waste reduction initiatives in place, but without accurate data on disposal patterns, it can be challenging for businesses to participate and track their progress. Smartbin sensors provide the necessary data to participate effectively in these initiatives and positively impact the environment.

4. Smart bin sensors aid in meeting compliance regulations.

There are often regulations and fines for improper waste management and overflowing bins. Smart bin sensors alert staff when bins need to be emptied, reducing the likelihood of overflows and penalties associated with them.

5. Get Insight Into average daily/weekly/month volume.

Smart bin sensors can provide valuable insights into waste patterns, including average daily, weekly, or monthly waste volume. This data can help make informed decisions on trash pickups and identify areas for waste management improvement.

6. Smart bin sensors improve recycling efforts.

Smart bin sensors can track the level of waste inside recycling bins and alert waste management teams when they are full. Increasing recycling efforts from individuals and businesses improves waste collection efficiency. Overall, smartbin sensors are a necessary solution for effectively managing waste in commercial buildings and reducing your carbon footprint. 

How can you establish a baseline with smartbin.io sensors?

Since the dawn of humankind, data has been the answer to solving some of the globes most pressing challenges. When it comes to waste and recycling, data can provide the same service. 

Establishing a baseline of your waste and recycling volumes is important because it gives you an idea of the current situation and what needs to change. You need to know where you are now to measure and improve.

Seeing opportunities for improvement can be difficult if you don't know your current situation well. You might not even know how much waste or recycling you generate!

The first step in establishing a baseline with Smartbin.io sensors is installing them on your waste and recycling bins. Once the sensors are in place, they will automatically track and record data on the volume levels in each bin.

By monitoring this data over time, you can see patterns in your waste and recycling generation and establish a baseline for future reference.

You can also use the data from Smartbin sensors to track changes in waste and recycling levels after implementing new initiatives or strategies, such as implementing a composting program or conducting education and awareness campaigns.

How does my organization get started?

Our devices can be rented for just $5 per month. We have been helping organizations better understand their waste and recycling efforts for the past 3 years and have had the privilege of working with clients like Google, JPMC, Hines, Jamestown LP and Suez. 

If you are interested in pursuing a purchase, we offer a 90-day pilot program to our clients to get started. For the first 30 days of the pilot program, we establish a waste and recycling baseline. The following 30 days we turn-on our features and guide your team through two 1-hour webinars to ensure everyone is on the same page. During this period your team will also receive alerts when bins become full and we ensure that there are no overflowing bins in your space ever again. During the last 30 days of the program, we work with your team to develop a commercialization strategy and show you the impact the system can make on your organizations waste and recycling efforts.

To start your free no obligation pilot with smartbin.io, please reach out to our founder Hamoun Karami via ham@smartbin.io

We look forward to partnering with you and your team in developing a better waste and recycling strategy to increase your waste diversion rates and set you on a path to waste zero!