As of January 2021, Ekocharita began installing Sensoneo smart sensors to monitor the fill-levels of their containers in real-time. By the end of June they had monitored 600 containers, and thanks to data gained from the sensors, they managed to significantly improve the management of their operations as they:

• decreased the time required for the collection of 1 tonne of textile waste by 30 percent,
• reduced the waste collection cost by 20 percent,
• and made the logistics process smoother and better organized.

Ekocharita operates within an area of 16000 km2 and manages 1300 containers for clothes, shoes, toys, and home textiles. The containers are usually distributed in busy urban areas. The availability of textile waste containers in close proximity encourages citizens to sort the clothes properly.

What makes containers for textile waste unique, is their very irregular filling cycles. The speed by which the containers become full is absolutely unpredictable, which makes collecting this waste difficult for operations and logistics and puts high financial and time demands on managers. Real-time online monitoring of fill levels can significantly improve operations and reduce costs.

Implementation of waste monitoring sensors

Ekocharita began installing the sensors in January 2021 thanks to the EIC Accelerator grant that Sensoneo received for large-scale deployment of their solution to prove its positive environmental, operational, and financial benefits of smart waste management.

The Sensoneo sensors use ultrasonic technology to monitor fill levels in containers 24 times a day. Along with this data, they also monitor temperature and provide fire and tilt alarms. For the data transfer, the company decided on the LoRaWAN IoT network. With every batch of installation, the positive impact on operations became more and more visible. „We have installed the sensors on our own, following a 2-hours training from Sensoneo, and we were surprised by how easy it was – it takes less than 5 minutes to install and set up the sensor,“ explains Juraj Kunak, CEO and Founder of Ekocharita.

The drivers, originally opposed to the implementation of new technologies, became very proactive as they realized the actual positive affect to their workloads. Juraj Kunak: „Even those who said that „I will not use it;I can’t do it with a smartphone“ are the first to open a smartphone at six in the morning, make 12 red dots along the way, and at 10:00 they are back with a full car.“

A complete change of operations

With smart waste monitoring on board, Ekocharita has completely redesigned the way they operate. The whole network is digitalized, and the drivers can easily and quickly identify the containers which really require pick-up, and so spend their time much more efficiently: „Right now, the driver wakes up in the morning, opens the app and can see the orange and the red dots – and that is exactly where he should go to quickly collect the full car – because that is the metric based on which the drivers are paid.“

Before the sensors, collection was based merely on the estimations of the drivers: „They were driving for 8-9 hours to collect a full car. They were running in circles and let’s say in 6 months the drivers were completely burnout. Now they can start at 7 or 8 and can be finished by 12:00 or by 1-2:00 PM and they can go back home to their families.“

The ability to choose only the nearly full containers for collection also allows Ekocharita to ensure they collect the volumes of material they need for easy and smooth warehouse management: “Before having sensors for example, 5 drivers would come full, but one driver would come empty. For one day, you can say it does not matter, but after 30 days you are missing let’s say 15 tons inside the warehouse, and that is the highest loss.“

A huge advantage over competitors

On-time waste collection means to avoid overflowing bins. Potential mess around bins and a dirty environment is a great obstacle for many business partners of Ekocharita: „Having sensors means being reliable for the partner. That is why we are deploying more and more containers which are very near to us in shopping malls, schools, universities, kindergartens… New areas where I have not been before because there was another competitor. Now we are able to replace them.“

Cost vs Benefit

Ekocharita was able to implement the solution thanks to the EIC Accelerator grant for Sensoneo. This way, the company could test and experience the actual benefits of a large-scale smart waste management deployment immediately. Naturally, the pace would have been different if the company had purchased the solution the standard way. That is why the company has also calculated the Return of Investment if the investment was fully on them. To calculate the ROI, the company used the Sensoneo’s monthly „smart waste as a service“ pricing. „If the purchase of the sensors had been fully on us, we would have recieved the ROI in 7 months,“ explains Juraj Kunak, CEO and Founder of Ekocharita.

As of spring of 2021, the Czech capital will pilot collecting waste via automated routes able to dynamically respond to changes in waste production and the city’s infrastructure.

Dynamic waste collection is part of an ambitious project of Sensoneo focused on the demonstration of environmental and economic benefits resulting from large-scale deployment of the Sensoneo solution. Given the scope and the tools applied, it is an ultimate and revolutionary model example at a global level. The project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council.

Thanks to efficient collection planning, the city of Prague will be able to systematically decrease the environmental impact related to the waste collection process, maximize efficiency of the currently available vehicles (trucks) and employ flexibility in the case of unanticipated changes. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is one such example, as it is profoundly changing traditional waste generation patterns and standard collection frequencies, and the current routes are not able to flexibly cope with these changes.

„Cities around the world face challenges related to growing urbanism, increasing volume of waste and insufficient flexibility, which has been now even more highlighted with the ongoing pandemic. Innovative technologies, which we will test during the pilot project, follow Prague’s strategy, focused on sustainability and a circular economy. I am convinced that this project will contribute to our plan of making Prague an active initiator of green technologies.” adds Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment, Infrastructure, Technical Equipment and Safety.

The project, unprecedented and unique by its large-scale deployment, includes the following procedures:

• Collection Efficiency Analysis (AS-IS ANALYSIS) for all waste commodities using Sensoneo’s unique method, based on processing all currently available data related to containers, vehicles and realized routes – provides the identification of weak points and opportunities for savings and improvement of the quality of service;
• Set-up of the new cycling routes and frequencies (TO-BE ANALYSIS) in order to increase the continuous efficiency and quality of service, combines the shortest possible routes, on-time collection, and maximum possible utilization of vehicle capacity with the long-term goal to reduce the number of vehicles used during waste collection;
• Collecting waste via automated routes (flexibly reflecting daily specific requirements) using Sensoneo’s navigation, which is tailor-made for the unique requirements of individual waste collection vehicles -> this facilitates the employment of drivers without prior driving experience in particular districts or particular routes;
• Final evaluation – showcases savings (time, cost, fuel, emissions) with a BEFORE-AFTER comparison

Along with the above, the project also includes the realtime monitoring of 550 containers for electronic waste with Sensoneo sensors to optimize waste collection, ensure sufficient free capacity for citizens and thus, support the recycling of this commodity. The operation part of the project will take one year. The city of Prague thus receives a unique opportunity to live-test the technology, which has the objective to cope with the current waste challenges in cities.

The preparation phase of the project has already started and the launch of the operational phase is scheduled for March 2021. The entire project, including the evaluation, will run until September 2022.

This project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council under the Agreement no 101010676.

As of spring of 2021, the Czech capital will pilot collecting waste via automated routes able to dynamically respond to changes in waste production and the city’s infrastructure.

Dynamic waste collection is part of an ambitious project of Sensoneo focused on the demonstration of environmental and economic benefits resulting from large-scale deployment of the Sensoneo solution. Given the scope and the tools applied, it is an ultimate and revolutionary model example at a global level. The project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council.

Thanks to efficient collection planning, the city of Prague will be able to systematically decrease the environmental impact related to the waste collection process, maximize efficiency of the currently available vehicles (trucks) and employ flexibility in the case of unanticipated changes. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is one such example, as it is profoundly changing traditional waste generation patterns and standard collection frequencies, and the current routes are not able to flexibly cope with these changes.

„Cities around the world face challenges related to growing urbanism, increasing volume of waste and insufficient flexibility, which has been now even more highlighted with the ongoing pandemic. Innovative technologies, which we will test during the pilot project, follow Prague’s strategy, focused on sustainability and a circular economy. I am convinced that this project will contribute to our plan of making Prague an active initiator of green technologies.” adds Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment, Infrastructure, Technical Equipment and Safety.

The project, unprecedented and unique by its large-scale deployment, includes the following procedures:

• Collection Efficiency Analysis (AS-IS ANALYSIS) for all waste commodities using Sensoneo’s unique method, based on processing all currently available data related to containers, vehicles and realized routes – provides the identification of weak points and opportunities for savings and improvement of the quality of service;
• Set-up of the new cycling routes and frequencies (TO-BE ANALYSIS) in order to increase the continuous efficiency and quality of service, combines the shortest possible routes, on-time collection, and maximum possible utilization of vehicle capacity with the long-term goal to reduce the number of vehicles used during waste collection;
• Collecting waste via automated routes (flexibly reflecting daily specific requirements) using Sensoneo’s navigation, which is tailor-made for the unique requirements of individual waste collection vehicles -> this facilitates the employment of drivers without prior driving experience in particular districts or particular routes;
• Final evaluation – showcases savings (time, cost, fuel, emissions) with a BEFORE-AFTER comparison

Along with the above, the project also includes the realtime monitoring of 550 containers for electronic waste with Sensoneo sensors to optimize waste collection, ensure sufficient free capacity for citizens and thus, support the recycling of this commodity. The operation part of the project will take one year. The city of Prague thus receives a unique opportunity to live-test the technology, which has the objective to cope with the current waste challenges in cities.

The preparation phase of the project has already started and the launch of the operational phase is scheduled for March 2021. The entire project, including the evaluation, will run until September 2022.

This project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council under the Agreement no 101010676.

As of spring of 2021, the Czech capital will pilot collecting waste via automated routes able to dynamically respond to changes in waste production and the city’s infrastructure.

Dynamic waste collection is part of an ambitious project of Sensoneo focused on the demonstration of environmental and economic benefits resulting from large-scale deployment of the Sensoneo solution. Given the scope and the tools applied, it is an ultimate and revolutionary model example at a global level. The project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council.

Thanks to efficient collection planning, the city of Prague will be able to systematically decrease the environmental impact related to the waste collection process, maximize efficiency of the currently available vehicles (trucks) and employ flexibility in the case of unanticipated changes. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is one such example, as it is profoundly changing traditional waste generation patterns and standard collection frequencies, and the current routes are not able to flexibly cope with these changes.

„Cities around the world face challenges related to growing urbanism, increasing volume of waste and insufficient flexibility, which has been now even more highlighted with the ongoing pandemic. Innovative technologies, which we will test during the pilot project, follow Prague’s strategy, focused on sustainability and a circular economy. I am convinced that this project will contribute to our plan of making Prague an active initiator of green technologies.” adds Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment, Infrastructure, Technical Equipment and Safety.

The project, unprecedented and unique by its large-scale deployment, includes the following procedures:

• Collection Efficiency Analysis (AS-IS ANALYSIS) for all waste commodities using Sensoneo’s unique method, based on processing all currently available data related to containers, vehicles and realized routes – provides the identification of weak points and opportunities for savings and improvement of the quality of service;
• Set-up of the new cycling routes and frequencies (TO-BE ANALYSIS) in order to increase the continuous efficiency and quality of service, combines the shortest possible routes, on-time collection, and maximum possible utilization of vehicle capacity with the long-term goal to reduce the number of vehicles used during waste collection;
• Collecting waste via automated routes (flexibly reflecting daily specific requirements) using Sensoneo’s navigation, which is tailor-made for the unique requirements of individual waste collection vehicles -> this facilitates the employment of drivers without prior driving experience in particular districts or particular routes;
• Final evaluation – showcases savings (time, cost, fuel, emissions) with a BEFORE-AFTER comparison

Along with the above, the project also includes the realtime monitoring of 550 containers for electronic waste with Sensoneo sensors to optimize waste collection, ensure sufficient free capacity for citizens and thus, support the recycling of this commodity. The operation part of the project will take one year. The city of Prague thus receives a unique opportunity to live-test the technology, which has the objective to cope with the current waste challenges in cities.

The preparation phase of the project has already started and the launch of the operational phase is scheduled for March 2021. The entire project, including the evaluation, will run until September 2022.

This project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council under the Agreement no 101010676.

As of spring of 2021, the Czech capital will pilot collecting waste via automated routes able to dynamically respond to changes in waste production and the city’s infrastructure.

Dynamic waste collection is part of an ambitious project of Sensoneo focused on the demonstration of environmental and economic benefits resulting from large-scale deployment of the Sensoneo solution. Given the scope and the tools applied, it is an ultimate and revolutionary model example at a global level. The project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council.

Thanks to efficient collection planning, the city of Prague will be able to systematically decrease the environmental impact related to the waste collection process, maximize efficiency of the currently available vehicles (trucks) and employ flexibility in the case of unanticipated changes. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is one such example, as it is profoundly changing traditional waste generation patterns and standard collection frequencies, and the current routes are not able to flexibly cope with these changes.

„Cities around the world face challenges related to growing urbanism, increasing volume of waste and insufficient flexibility, which has been now even more highlighted with the ongoing pandemic. Innovative technologies, which we will test during the pilot project, follow Prague’s strategy, focused on sustainability and a circular economy. I am convinced that this project will contribute to our plan of making Prague an active initiator of green technologies.” adds Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment, Infrastructure, Technical Equipment and Safety.

The project, unprecedented and unique by its large-scale deployment, includes the following procedures:

• Collection Efficiency Analysis (AS-IS ANALYSIS) for all waste commodities using Sensoneo’s unique method, based on processing all currently available data related to containers, vehicles and realized routes – provides the identification of weak points and opportunities for savings and improvement of the quality of service;
• Set-up of the new cycling routes and frequencies (TO-BE ANALYSIS) in order to increase the continuous efficiency and quality of service, combines the shortest possible routes, on-time collection, and maximum possible utilization of vehicle capacity with the long-term goal to reduce the number of vehicles used during waste collection;
• Collecting waste via automated routes (flexibly reflecting daily specific requirements) using Sensoneo’s navigation, which is tailor-made for the unique requirements of individual waste collection vehicles -> this facilitates the employment of drivers without prior driving experience in particular districts or particular routes;
• Final evaluation – showcases savings (time, cost, fuel, emissions) with a BEFORE-AFTER comparison

Along with the above, the project also includes the realtime monitoring of 550 containers for electronic waste with Sensoneo sensors to optimize waste collection, ensure sufficient free capacity for citizens and thus, support the recycling of this commodity. The operation part of the project will take one year. The city of Prague thus receives a unique opportunity to live-test the technology, which has the objective to cope with the current waste challenges in cities.

The preparation phase of the project has already started and the launch of the operational phase is scheduled for March 2021. The entire project, including the evaluation, will run until September 2022.

This project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council under the Agreement no 101010676.

As of spring of 2021, the Czech capital will pilot collecting waste via automated routes able to dynamically respond to changes in waste production and the city’s infrastructure.

Dynamic waste collection is part of an ambitious project of Sensoneo focused on the demonstration of environmental and economic benefits resulting from large-scale deployment of the Sensoneo solution. Given the scope and the tools applied, it is an ultimate and revolutionary model example at a global level. The project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council.

Thanks to efficient collection planning, the city of Prague will be able to systematically decrease the environmental impact related to the waste collection process, maximize efficiency of the currently available vehicles (trucks) and employ flexibility in the case of unanticipated changes. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is one such example, as it is profoundly changing traditional waste generation patterns and standard collection frequencies, and the current routes are not able to flexibly cope with these changes.

„Cities around the world face challenges related to growing urbanism, increasing volume of waste and insufficient flexibility, which has been now even more highlighted with the ongoing pandemic. Innovative technologies, which we will test during the pilot project, follow Prague’s strategy, focused on sustainability and a circular economy. I am convinced that this project will contribute to our plan of making Prague an active initiator of green technologies.” adds Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment, Infrastructure, Technical Equipment and Safety.

The project, unprecedented and unique by its large-scale deployment, includes the following procedures:

• Collection Efficiency Analysis (AS-IS ANALYSIS) for all waste commodities using Sensoneo’s unique method, based on processing all currently available data related to containers, vehicles and realized routes – provides the identification of weak points and opportunities for savings and improvement of the quality of service;
• Set-up of the new cycling routes and frequencies (TO-BE ANALYSIS) in order to increase the continuous efficiency and quality of service, combines the shortest possible routes, on-time collection, and maximum possible utilization of vehicle capacity with the long-term goal to reduce the number of vehicles used during waste collection;
• Collecting waste via automated routes (flexibly reflecting daily specific requirements) using Sensoneo’s navigation, which is tailor-made for the unique requirements of individual waste collection vehicles -> this facilitates the employment of drivers without prior driving experience in particular districts or particular routes;
• Final evaluation – showcases savings (time, cost, fuel, emissions) with a BEFORE-AFTER comparison

Along with the above, the project also includes the realtime monitoring of 550 containers for electronic waste with Sensoneo sensors to optimize waste collection, ensure sufficient free capacity for citizens and thus, support the recycling of this commodity. The operation part of the project will take one year. The city of Prague thus receives a unique opportunity to live-test the technology, which has the objective to cope with the current waste challenges in cities.

The preparation phase of the project has already started and the launch of the operational phase is scheduled for March 2021. The entire project, including the evaluation, will run until September 2022.

This project is co-funded by the Horizon2020 program of the European Innovation Council under the Agreement no 101010676.