Street Scape

Smart Waste Management Solutions for Modern Urban Challenges

Overview

As of August 2024, over 330 UK local councils have declared a climate emergency, representing a significant majority of local authorities across the country. This widespread recognition of the need for urgent climate action is driving local governments to explore innovative solutions that enhance sustainability and operational efficiency, particularly in waste management.

Challenges in Waste Management

Waste bins, whether for street litter, residential areas, or businesses, form a crucial part of the urban landscape. Traditionally, waste collection has been based on fixed routes and schedules, often leading to inefficiencies. In densely populated areas, collection vehicles frequently make multiple trips along the same roads to service bins that may not require immediate attention, leading to unnecessary costs, increased carbon emissions, and over-servicing.

CONTAMINATION

Non-recyclable materials mixed with recyclables.

SAFETY

Hazardous materials pose risks to workers.

EFFICIENCY

Manual sorting is time consuming and prone to errors.

COST

Inefficiencies lead to higher operational costs.

COMPLIANCE

Adhering to regulatory standards.

Meaha’s Comprehensive Waste Management Solutions

Street Scene Environment: We look at everything from bin design, solar compactors, smart bins, fill-level sensors, to QR code readers that may support your operation whether that be in the high-footfall or rural locations. Smart bins have been proven to significantly increase waste capacity and provide real-time data on fill levels. By integrating this data with route optimisation software, local authorities can ensure that bins are only emptied when necessary, preventing overflows and reducing unnecessary collections. AI-driven monitoring systems also detect bin movement or tampering, reducing risks of vandalism and theft, which contributes to a cleaner and safer urban environment while optimising resources. Meaha initially carry out a digital mapping exercise (if not already done) of your current assets noting condition, frequency collected, fullness etc.. Discussions are held with all stakeholders to understand the current operation, opportunity to raise constraints, issues, hot pots, solutions, requests as well as any other opinions. Maps are over laid to show crew routes, collection frequencies, bin quantities, capacities, crew schedules. We then analyse any current data and/or trial data to create a details analysis of your operation. Once an agreed report is compiled, we then look at how technology can support your operation to deliver efficiencies, support the reallocation of resource to other duties, reduce CO2 emissions, support a sustainable and effective operation.

Residential Waste Collection and Monitoring: In residential areas, AI-powered waste categorisation and contamination detection systems seamlessly integrate with existing collection infrastructure. These tools monitor the types of waste disposed of and identify contaminants in recycling streams, ensuring compliance with local waste sorting regulations. This not only improves recycling rates but also reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills. The insights gathered can be used to educate residents on proper waste disposal practices and enforce regulations more effectively, promoting community engagement in sustainability efforts. AI Vision can also be used to monitor for unwanted high risk materials been tipped in the back of vehicles that crews may not capture, and all the driver accordingly.

Bring Centre Waste Analysis and Utilisation: At Bring centres, where residents deposit recyclables, Vision AI technology automates the sorting and categorisation of materials, enhancing operational efficiency. The system provides real-time data on the types and volumes of materials collected, enabling better resource planning and reducing operational costs. The information gathered allows local authorities to evaluate the effectiveness of their recycling programs and adjust strategies to improve waste diversion rates, thereby contributing to overall environmental sustainability.

Benefits Summary

Operational Efficiency: Smartends real-time data and AI-driven solutions minimise unnecessary collections and optimise waste management routes, leading to significant cost savings and reduced environmental impact.
Environmental Sustainability: Improved waste sorting and contamination detection technologies help increase recycling rates and reduce landfill waste, aligning with climate action goals.
Enhanced Public Cleanliness and Safety: By ensuring timely waste collection and reducing the risk of overflowing bins, Meaha’s technologies contribute to cleaner and safer public spaces, enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Conclusion

Meaha provides a robust suite of tools that empower local authorities to create more efficient, sustainable, and clean urban environments. By leveraging advanced AI and smart technologies, councils can meet the growing demands of urban waste management while supporting broader climate action initiatives.