By Aaron An
Rapid population growth is creating waste management challenges for many local governments. Wyndham City, located in the western suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne, is one of the fastest-growing councils in Victoria. Its population almost doubled from 132,800 to 250,186 between 2008 and 2018. The Council owns a Refuse Disposal Facility (RDF), one of five commercial landfills in metropolitan Melbourne licensed to accept putrescible waste. The Council purchased the facility in 1985 following a community campaign against plans for a toxic waste dump on the site. Since then, the RDF has operated as a local landfill and, for the past 20 years, as a commercial landfill serving mainly inner and western Melbourne councils.
The amount of waste accepted at the RDF has increased over the years. The amount of waste generated in Melbourne has increased, and the supply of landfill to accept this waste has decreased. This increase presents a challenge to the management of the facility. The facility also operates under an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) licence. Compliance with EPA regulations is essential to the operation of the facility. As part of the licence compliance programme, the Council undertakes a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme, and an EPA-appointed environmental auditor regularly audits the landfill. The increase in tonnage received at the RDF, the number of lorries delivering waste, the increased height of the cells in operation, and the increased potential for windblown waste pose potential environmental risks.
To address waste management issues, reduce waste sent to landfills and make the city more efficient and environmentally friendly, the Council installed 32 smart bins for the first time in 2017. The new smart bins provide a consistent look on the streets and a consistent message to the public about recycling. The smart bins use solar-powered compaction technology to hold up to 600 litres of waste and recycling - five times more than the average kerbside bin. With solar panels on top, the bins can automatically shred and compact waste to hold much more than standard bins.
Each bin can be mapped onto a software platform with its current and historical data, allowing administrators to track each bin over time and provide key performance and reporting information back to the control centre. Each bin has a security system that notifies the administrator in the event of a breach. As part of the service, the bins can have a bespoke design for the bin wrap, providing a more attractive engagement opportunity for the Council.
The smart bins can alert the manager when they are full or almost full and need to be emptied, creating an environmental benefit by allowing them to be emptied 80 per cent less often. Fewer garbage trucks mean cost savings for ratepayers and less pollution. Wyndham City was one of the first councils in Australia to install smart bins, joining Surf Coast Shire and the City of Greater Bendigo in Victoria and Townsville City Council in Queensland.
Outcome
By using smart bins, the Council can learn which bins are more likely to be full and which need more attention. The smart bins have led to a significant increase in public recycling across the Council, reducing litter and waste sent to landfill. Over 386,000 litres of recycling were diverted from landfills in the first year.
Before the smart bins were installed, waste was collected 28 times a month. The average monthly collection is now less than six times a month - an impressive 80% reduction. In 2018, the project was named one of the top five communities in the world for waste diversion. Wyndham was ranked fifth among the top 25 smart city implementations with the highest recycling and compost diversion rates.