Jackie Thompson

 

Baltimore’s collection of solid waste and recycling activities ran for many years using paper maps and driver knowledge of the city’s routes. However, this type of routing has become less dependable in recent years, due primarily to higher employee turnover making it difficult to train new drivers to familiarize themselves with the city’s collection routes. In addition, many of the collection trucks were not fitted with electronic routing and global positioning systems (GPS). The decision to acquire a routing software enabled the city to improve the efficiency of collection by digitizing routes. Data generated also helps the city to understand the volume of waste and recycling materials that are gathered.

Waste Management And Smart Software

A waste management program needs to operate efficiently and effectively to reach its goals of material recovery and rubbish reduction. Technology is a focal piece in achieving waste reduction and management. Businesses, enterprises and local councils can keep track of their trash better than before by taking advantage of technology. For example, cloud-based waste management software that can be accessed through a web or mobile app makes it easy to plan routes efficiently for collecting trucks, improving fuel and energy usage. Instead of turning around aimlessly, drivers know where to go guided by a planned route and schedule, saving time and money. On top of routing, you can also track your vehicle fleet to see where they are, how much energy they’re consuming, and even check driver safety and behavior.

Data generated by the software also tells you important information such as pick-up, recycling, and dumping sites. This type of information can be stored on the cloud so that you can readily access or modify it. It tells you the volume of materials amassed and recycled, as well as how much ends up in landfill. Armed with powerful information, you adjust interventions to maximize collection, recycling, and disposal efforts. In addition, the software can also streamline scheduling and invoicing, as well as boost worker productivity.

Hazardous Chemicals And Waste

Dangerous materials and waste that are not managed properly can seriously affect human health and the environment. From industrial to manufacturing waste, hazardous waste can come from many sources. Regulating and managing chemical waste is often a complex task. The good news is that software that focuses on harmful by-products can enhance the safety of handling and treating these types of waste. Risks assessments and operating instructions are created to direct staff how to handle harmful waste. From the time that waste is identified as hazardous to collection, treatment and disposal, the software steers users and management to implement safety protocols. It also provides alerts, and ensures that legal requirements are met. Detailed waste reports are generated, making it easy to exchange data within an organization and with regulatory bodies. In effect, the software addresses all the stages of hazardous waste management, from identification and collection to treatment, disposal and reporting.

Waste management can be a complex undertaking involving many actors and participants. Fortunately, advances in technology and software make it easier to gather, treat, recover and dispose of waste.

 

Photo by zibik on Unsplash.

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