Waste Management Improvements

Waste is Not an Infrastructure Issue, It’s a Data Problem In the age of digital transformation, businesses increasingly rely on data to streamline operations and enhance decision-making. The waste management industry is no exception. As the CEO of Livegistics, I see firsthand how workflow automation and artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionize oversight, visibility, and performance in companies that produce, process, and transport waste. The core challenge we face today is not just about infrastructure; it’s fundamentally a data problem. Traditionally, waste management has been viewed through the lens of infrastructure – trucks, bins, and landfills. However, the real bottleneck lies in the lack of accurate, timely, and actionable data. Without comprehensive data, companies struggle to optimize routes, reduce operational costs, and make informed decisions about waste disposal and recycling. Consider tire recycling: approximately 85% of all tires are now recycled and reused. This success story is not just about infrastructure but meticulous data collection and analysis. By tracking the lifecycle of tires, from production to disposal, companies can ensure that a significant proportion is diverted from landfills to more sustainable uses. AI and workflow automation are game-changers in addressing this data gap. By leveraging these technologies, companies can gain real-time insights into their waste management processes. Automated systems can track and analyze vast amounts of data, identifying inefficiencies and suggesting improvements. The history of metal recycling after Pearl Harbor offers another industry defining example. The massive demand for metal during World War II led to an unprecedented mobilization of resources and data management efforts. Communities collected and sorted scrap metal with precision, contributing to the war effort and setting a precedent for modern recycling programs. This was not merely an infrastructure achievement but a data-driven operation. Our goal at Livegistics is to use these technologies to manage infrastructure related materials much more efficiently. Those that should go to landfills as well as those that should not. Landfills should be viewed as precious resources with finite space, and disposal should come at a premium cost. Auxiliary facilities that divert waste from landfills must become economically viable, efficient, and involve repeatable best practices. Achieving this requires a robust data infrastructure that supports transparency and accountability for every stakeholder involved in the process. As we move forward, let’s remember: waste is not an infrastructure issue; it’s a data problem. Solving this problem will require innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to leveraging technology for a more sustainable future. Collectively, I look forward to exploring how we can work together to transform waste management through data-driven solutions. Regards, Justin Turk CEO, Livegistics

At NextBillion.ai, we're tackling some fascinating routing challenges that traditional systems simply can't handle. Waste management routing is a perfect example. Here are some constraints most mapping solutions aren’t set up for: But first, let me break down how waste management routing is different from standard delivery operations: 1. Route optimization Unlike precise delivery points, waste bins are often spread across entire neighborhoods— so 500 bins along seven streets rather than 10 specific addresses. This fundamentally changes how we approach route optimization. 2. Vehicle size Large waste trucks can maneuver the same way delivery vans can, so we need to avoid U-turns and sharp turns for safety and cost reasons. 3. Side-of-street requirements Manned and unmanned waste collection needs to be handled quite differently. Automated waste collection trucks need to approach bins from the correct side of the street, unlike manual collection where workers can cross the street to access bins. 4. Waste types Residential, commercial, and construction waste. Hazardous materials disposal has different trucking regulations than everyday household garbage pickup. Construction waste means multi-point scenarios—placing empty dumpsters at sites, collecting full ones, emptying them at the dump facility, and returning them to warehouses. Many of these scenarios are not easily tackled by typical route planning systems. Our route optimization API has specific parameters to solve for the very real problems waste management companies face. They can specify the streets they want to traverse, the correct direction waste bins should be approached, avoid inconvenient traffic maneuvers, and address the unique challenge of multi-point drop-offs.

Here's how AI innovations can make waste collection not only safer for workers but also greener for the planet According to the State of India's Environment 2023 report, India generates 150,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). In India, there are approximately 5 million sanitation workers, with over 1.5 million of them likely being waste pickers, according to a report by The The George Institute for Global Health. Challengingly, despite their crucial role, these workers, many in the informal sector, often operate in hazardous conditions without basic safety equipment like gloves and masks. Between 2017-2022, more than 347 sanitation workers died, as reported by the Hindustan Times in a July 2022 article. Physical injuries and health problems pose significant challenges to the well-being of sanitation workers, especially those cleaning septic tanks. As our urban areas expand, efficient waste management becomes increasingly crucial. Technological advancements like automation and digitization could be game-changers for worker safety and waste handling, potentially even reducing emissions. Here are 2 promising innovations that could enhance both safety and efficiency in sanitation work... 📍Never send a human to do a machine's job: AI enhanced safety gear for waste collectors AI-enhanced sensors can be integrated into the safety gear of waste management workers. These sensors can monitor environmental conditions like gas levels and temperatures, providing real-time alerts to workers. 📍Together we can do so much more: Smart waste collection bins and intelligent collection routes With the help of AI and IoT, dynamic waste collection routes and smart bins can optimize the workload of waste pickers. Cities like London, Melbourne, and NYC have implemented Bigbelly smart bins that leverage the benefits of being able to configure waste and recycling bins. What struck me was the cloud-based software that could help stakeholders better by providing insights on how and when to collect waste. Intelligent and more efficient waste collection using technologies such as AI could not only help reduce GHG emissions but also make for more sustainable, safer waste collection and management. What other tech do you think could optimize this process further? Do let me know in the comments section! #artificialintelligence #wastecollection #technology

The Global Waste Index 2025 has dropped, and the numbers are both illuminating and a bit frightening. With the U.S. generating a staggering 951 kg of waste per capita, and other nations achieving near-zero landfilling, what are the core strategic and systemic levers we must pull to truly decouple economic growth from waste generation, especially in countries lagging behind? The latest data from Sensoneo paints a compelling picture of progress and persistent problems in waste management worldwide: 🟢 The United States generates the most municipal solid waste at 951 kg per capita, with 447 kg ending up in landfills. Canada, similarly challenged, landfills 468 kg out of 684 kg of generated waste. 🟢 Countries with established Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), such as Japan (ranked 1st) and South Korea (ranked 2nd with a 54% recycling rate), consistently achieve top waste management scores. New DRS implementations are emerging in Romania (2023), Ireland (2024), Hungary (2024), and Austria (2025). 🟢 Estonia leaped from 32nd to 3rd place, showcasing rapid improvement in waste management. On the other hand, Israel remains at the bottom, landfilling 80% (524 kg) of its 650 kg per capita waste. A remarkable insight from the Global Waste Index 2025 is that 19 out of 38 OECD countries now incinerate more waste than they landfill, significantly reducing waste volume by up to 90%. This statistic prompts a critical question: are we witnessing a pragmatic, strategic pivot towards waste-to-energy as a necessary component of modern and more sustainable waste management, especially for materials not easily recycled? Landfilling, while a common disposal method, comes with significant environmental burdens. It contributes to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, and carries risks of soil and water contamination from leachate. Many countries, including those in North America, still heavily rely on this method. In contrast, modern incineration, particularly with energy recovery, represents a more advanced approach for managing residual waste. It not only drastically reduces the volume of waste but also converts it into usable heat and electricity, offsetting the need for fossil fuels. Advanced filtration systems are designed to minimize harmful emissions. While it's not a substitute for robust recycling programs and circular design, strategic incineration offers a pathway to extract value from waste streams that cannot yet be truly circularized, moving us away from the inherent drawbacks of landfills. Switzerland, for instance, sends 0 kg to landfill, relying on incineration as a key part of its strategy. What policy change or technological innovation do you believe could have the most profound impact on accelerating circularity and drastically reducing landfill waste based on these trends? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e54rEmSG #CircularEconomy #WasteManagement #Sustainability #EPR #GlobalWasteIndex

♻️ 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘁 Underground waste containers present a smarter, cleaner approach to managing urban waste. By relocating collection systems below ground, cities can reduce surface bin overflow, control unpleasant odors, and minimize rodent activity—all while preserving aesthetic harmony in public spaces. These systems are space-efficient, high-capacity, and secure, enabling municipalities to handle growing waste volumes more effectively. Such container systems are redefining how we think about urban sanitation—streamlining operations, reducing visual clutter, and contributing to healthier, more livable environments. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀. #WasteManagement #PublicHealth #SmartCity #Sustainability

🔥 Big changes for UK waste regulation: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is replacing the waste carrier, broker and dealer (CBD) registration system with a new environmental permitting regime ♻️ 📋 This is a significant shake-up, designed to clamp down on waste crime, professionalise the sector and level the playing field for compliant operators. Here's what we know: ➡️ Three new permit categories: Waste Controllers, Waste Transporters, and Combined Operations ➡️ Mandatory technical competence for all permit holders ➡️ Risk-based tiers with proportionate charging ➡️ Enhanced enforcement powers: suspension and revocation, not just prosecution ➡️ Digital integration with the new waste tracking system from April 💡Why it matters: Waste crime costs the UK £1.1 billion a year, with an estimated 20% of waste being illegally managed. Fly-tipping alone hit 1.15 million incidents in 2023/24, costing local authorities £13m 🚨 💼 For businesses, this means higher standards, active 3-year renewals, and proof of competence. But it also brings credibility, transparency and a stronger market for legitimate operators. 🌍 For regulators and the public, it means the Environment Agency now has sharper tools including faster enforcement, real-time digital tracking and better protection against rogue traders. Many believe this has been a long time coming and is a progressive step towards a more transparent, accountable and sustainable waste system in the UK. 👉 Do you think this will finally crack down on illegal operators, or just raise costs for those already compliant? #wastecrime #environmentalcompliance #wastemanagement #resourcerecovery #circulareconomy #sustainablebusiness #wastetracking #environmentagency