How people dispose of waste has evolved over the past centuries. Due to various waste management projects and save Earth awareness programs, people have realised the need to adopt safer and more responsible means of disposing of garbage. Garbage bins, plastic dustbins, and waste baskets are now available in various shapes, sizes, and materials to help people make a conscious choice when it comes to disposing of waste.
The amount of waste getting generated all across the world has trebled in the last few years. However, with increased globalisation and improved consumerist patterns, the waste generated is much greater, even in developing nations. This has highlighted the need to bring forward more modern waste management solutions worldwide.
If we do not use intelligent dustbins, the problem of waste accumulation and mismanagement is bound to rise in the future. Technology has made its effects felt in several industries. However, the waste and recycling industry is still immune to rapid technological innovations.
Why Do We Need To Shift To More Responsible and Smart Means of Waste Management?
The foremost reason for switching to more technology-driven means of disposing of wastes is due to the fervent increase in waste contamination. Contamination refers to polluting waste streams with unwanted and hazardous waste materials. For example, many people place cups with waxy coatings in recycling bins since they are made of paper. However, due to the waxy outer layer on its cups, they are not recyclable and should not be placed in the recycle bin. This is an example of contamination that occurs unknowingly daily in our society.
This contaminated recycling bag gets dumped in landfills. Contamination of recyclable material is the single biggest problem faced by most countries in the world.
Smart Plastic Dustbin- The Solution
Using smart plastic dustbins will help reduce the problems of contamination in recycling bins. Before that, the governments of every city in India need to make people aware of the need to use smart containers and alleviate contamination. Bins in airports, schools, malls, public museums, and other areas must be modified. This would require a plastic dustbin manufacturer to draw certain signs or write words or put sensors to indicate if recyclable things can be put into that bin or not. This will enable waste diversion, and people will not make the same mistake of putting recyclable stuff in non-recyclable bins or vice versa.
Smart bins help measure the amount of waste deposited in them and track recycling. This happens through AI, sensors, and image recognition. The sensor measures the capacity of the rubbish being put into the bin. It sends a notification to the concerned authority whenever the bin is full and needs to be emptied.
The advantages of using smart bins are-
- Smart bins are made from recycled plastic and are Earth-friendly.
- Smart bins use a compression system which maximises the dustbin’s capacity to hold more waste.
- They improve recycling rates and lower landfill dumps.
- Smart bins are well-designed to take up less space in footpaths and airports.
Steps the Government Should Take to Make India Waste-Contamination-Free
- The government should install smart bins in most public places like airports, universities, and malls.
- Smart bins should be painted with distinctive colours to help people recognise them.
- Waste management guidelines should be provided to state governments to initiate new developments and regulations.
Conclusion
Countries all around the world are switching to more innovative and more reliable means of disposing of waste. For example, South Korea, Singapore, Poland, and Melbourne have introduced smart and intelligent bins in their public places to increase efficiency while disposing of waste. It is India’s chance to adopt newer methods and technologies to challenge and solve the issue of waste management. India is one of the fastest developing nations in the world and needs to tackle the problem of waste contamination to evolve as a smart nation.
