Northern Trains, alongside waste management partner Biffa, are deploying smart bin sensors at 70 stations across the North East in a bid to increase recycling.
Manufactured in the UK by IoT Solutions Group, the sensors will give Northern Trains real-time recycling volumes from individual bins, helping them monitor and improve recycling rates.
Northern Trains have a target in place to recycle 70% of the waste produced across their sites this year. Measuring these rates accurately and making quantifiable improvements quickly is therefore essential, it says.
It says this solution also allows the team to adjust recycling schemes in response to seasonal trends, preventing bin overflow and the resulting environmental pollution.
With the sensors continually monitoring the fill levels, we can quickly and easily measure the impact of various initiatives to encourage more recycling, helping us reach that important 70% goal.
Nick Coleman, Energy & Environment Support Manager, who helps manage the project, commented: “The data that these sensors provide is so valuable for our sustainability targets. By knowing where we are now, we can accurately set a benchmark and identify how we can improve.
“With the sensors continually monitoring the fill levels, we can quickly and easily measure the impact of various initiatives to encourage more recycling, helping us reach that important 70% goal.”
Biffa is the waste contractor for Northern Trains, the UK’s largest geographical train operator, carrying out an average of 1,200 lifts per month of waste and recycling bins. The installation of the sensors this summer is the next phase of an extensive project.
Valuable data
As well as continually monitoring the fill level of the bin, these smart bin sensors also monitor and record the lid position and bin temperature, a valuable additional when managing the security at remote locations. IoT Solutions Group deliver customised packages for their clients; for Biffa and Northern Trains, there is a lot of technology working in the background.
Clever algorithms are applied to the fill level data, converting it to an estimated weight to deliver real-time, accurate recycling data. These sensors can be installed anywhere in the UK and automatically relay the data to a private online portal via secure data networks.
Emma Mahy, CEO and Co-founder of IoT Solutions Group, feels honoured to be delivering solutions for this important project. “We started the company four years ago to deliver solutions for key data collection and insight challenges, and we are thrilled to be working with Biffa and Northern Trains.
“Our team thrives on making valuable data easily accessible in a useable way to make a real difference, which is especially important for measured sustainability improvements.”
The project clearly demonstrates how technological innovation can support sustainability goals, especially when committed and forward-thinking companies come together to tackle a single objective.