Waste Management Intelligent Systems and Policies

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Technology and innovation have reached the field of waste and equipment and systems are increasingly more intelligent. Today, container-systems can identify recyclers and the amount of waste disposed of, when and where; they can communicate their available capacity to the collection services, compact waste, eliminate odours, be accessible or show information through screens. There is energy efficient equipment and Big Data solutions able to analyse usage trends and plan accordingly, in addition to many other ICT-based solutions, contributing in different ways to waste minimisation and to sustainability in the waste management process. The WIN-POL project aims at improving policies for waste management so that they increasingly foster and promote the use of intelligent equipment and planning derived of it, significantly contributing to waste minimisation in European cities and regions, through improved management procedures and awareness campaigns. Intelligent equipment and systems for waste disposal, collection and management bring about the opportunity to improve policies because the detailed information produced makes it possible to develop individual and accurate taxation policies in line with the “who pollutes pays” principles. They also lead to improved resource efficiency in the collection routes, to highly targeted campaigns that address critical groups of waste producers who have been identified thanks to data collected and, in general, to better strategic waste management planning at urban level as well as to cost optimisation in the mid-term, even if initial investments have to be faced. However, the degree of introduction of innovative equipment varies significantly from one environment to another. The WIN POL partnership gathers together cities and regions with proven experience in intelligent equipment and related waste management policies, and cities and regions planning to introduce them in the mid-term.

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