Bin Sensor Project for Cambridge City Council

As part of the approved Cambridge City Council Litter Strategy CCC Litter Strategy policy LS4 seeks to audit and review our streets and waste management service. Cambridge City Council have just over 1,900 street bins to maintain and empty which include, general waste, recycled waste and dog waste bins. To assess need and seek to make efficiencies within the service, we will be trialling the use of bin sensors to gather data to give us greater insight and make data led decisions on bin rationalisation as well as informing us of our most efficient routes and frequencies for street bin waste collections.

In comparison to the larger and higher populated authority of Newcastle City, circa. 112 km2 and over 306,000 population, which has just over 1,400 street and park bins, Cambridge City’s provision appears disproportionate, although some of the difference can be attributed to tourist visitor needs in the city centre, where there is over 475 bins, though this isn’t the whole picture.

The data will be used to identify any potential reduction in bin numbers and reductions in bin types. The bin sensors will allow for our routes and rounds to be optimised meaning we only visit location when we really need to, so concentrate` our efforts on high use areas. Rescheduling and routing efficiencies will lead to reductions in mileage, the requirement for the number of vehicles and the amount of operative time providing this service. A reduction in operative time will reduce the reliance on temporary/cover agency staff and therefore have the potential to reduce costs significantly or indeed divert resources to other key areas.

Bin sensors give us the real data / information that will allow us to identify the bin fill levels and demand, enabling us to be more efficient with our collection routes using the REEN advanced routing app, and this will lead to reducing fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, and labour costs associated with unnecessary collection trips.

Pilot Area(s)

We installed 200 wireless REEN WE-10 sensors in November onto selective City Council owned bins. This first phase covering the whole of Trumpington (99 sensors on bins) and Queen Ediths (66 sensors on bins) Wards with circa 40 sensors on main routes (outside of these wards), being installed on Hills Road, Cherry Hinton Road and Brooklands Avenue. Once we have enough data in the Phase 1 area we will relocate the bin sensors to other areas of the city, we expect relocation of the 200 sensors to happen by the Spring of 2025. These initial trial areas should provide us with data to help us make management decisions in the areas trialled and inform us how we proceed both with sensor reallocation, routing of bin rounds and initial recommendations on bin rationalisation.

Rationale

· Data-Driven Decision Making: The implementation of bin sensors and data analytics enables data-driven decision-making processes in waste management. The City Council can analyse trends in waste generation, collection patterns, and bin usage to make informed decisions regarding bin placement, collection frequencies, and resource allocation, which gives us the ability to continuously improve and optimise the way we manage waste collection from our litter bins.

· Optimised Waste Collection Routes: Implementation of real-time bin sensors enables us to be flexible and optimise our waste collection routes. By prioritising bins based on fill levels and demand, collection routes become more efficient, with the environmental benefits of reducing fuel consumption and pollution, reduced vehicle wear and tear, and improved labour resource efficiency associated with only undertaking necessary collection trips.

· Reduction in Overflowing Bins: Proactive management of bin capacity helps prevent bins from reaching capacity and overflowing. This leads to cleaner streets, reduces the risk of litter spreading, and minimises the need for additional clean-up efforts, resulting in improved aesthetics and public satisfaction.

· Cost Efficiencies: By rationalising bin placement and optimising collection routes, the project leads to significant cost efficiencies. These cost savings are achieved through reduced fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses, fleet size reductions, labour costs, and associated overheads, ultimately leading to more efficient allocation of resources.

· Enhanced Public Satisfaction: The project’s outcomes result in cleaner, more efficiently managed urban environments, leading to increased public satisfaction and confidence in municipal waste management services. Residents and visitors alike benefit from cleaner streets, reduced littering, and a more pleasant City experience.

· Improved City Aesthetics: By ensuring that litter bins are strategically placed and adequately serviced, the project contributes to improving the overall cleanliness and aesthetics of urban areas. Cleaner streets and public spaces enhance the quality of life for residents, attract visitors and businesses, and foster a sense of civic pride and community well-being.