RFID Waste Collection System

RFID Waste Collection System (RWCS) is a collection of components, providing a solution for tracking lifts activities of front-end and curb-side waste containers using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The concept involves installing RFID tags on the waste containers so they can be read by collection vehicles equipped with an RFID readers,  lift sensors and other supporting equipment.  The automatic recording of lift activities will eliminate the paper-based run-sheets, which is prone to inaccuracy and human error.

Anticipated benefits of a RFID based Waste Collection System include more accurate billing and invoice reconciliation, future billing of excess garbage, implementing reward programs through measurement of increased recycling practices as well as improved customer service.

A review of deployed projects in Toronto, Canada and also on the global scale shows, the waste management industry is exclusively utilizing Passive RFID technology which is globally accepted as means of process and asset identification mechanism.

In virtually all current deployments, the key business drivers for RFID-enabled automated waste management solutions are to gain real-time operational visibility, greater level of asset (Bins & containers) visibility, collection service verification, inventory and asset optimization and particularly customer service improvement.

In general, asset tagging and collection operations are relatively similar in all deployments where Bins & containers are chipped with RFID tags and collection trucks are retrofitted with RFID readers and other on-board equipment to collect and transfer operational data to the enterprise systems.

In numerous deployments, handheld scanners are an essential part of the solution and are utilized for improving field operations in various areas such as inventory control, bin distribution and maintenance, thus reducing costs associated with container loss and fraud and faster dispute resolution.

Geospatial coding is utilized in nearly all deployments where Bins and containers are linked to specific locations, and in conjunction with live operational data are used to improve service accuracy, operation efficiency and asset management.

Mainstream solutions are utilizing Wide Area Cellular 3G/4G technologies (GSM, CDMA, LTE, HSPA) for providing data access to field devices and field personnel in various areas such as work-in-progress, operation monitoring and alerting.

Generally speaking, despite all the progress made during recent years in RFID technology and cost reduction, RFID project implementation remains complex, tedious and involves a significant risk level.

The common RFID projects inherent risks are:

• System integrator’s lack of experience in the technology
• System integrator’s lack of experience in the Waste collection industry
• Unrealistic expectation of the technology by business people
• Lack of business process changes and adoption to new/improved processes
• Lack of detail business requirements or requirement change management
• Unrealistic cost estimates and vendor’s over-promising
• Selection of low-cost hardware to meet the budget
• Great focus on the hardware side and fail to meet the software requirements
• Lack of unanimous support and mandate by business
• Lack of deep integration of the new processes into the enterprise architecture
• Lack of proper IT architecture to deal with the influx of data RFID generates

It is apparent that in a correctly planned project, the Return of Investment (ROI) rate is satisfactory and it comes from many directions. In general, ROI will be realized when the high-quality data provided by RFID-enabled vehicles, streams into the organization and where accurate business intelligence data and KPI values are measured and used.

In many projects, further ROI realization has occurred from improved customer service, various cost reductions, environmental impact and maximized waste management efficiency.

Dynathrone’s RFID engineers have hands on knowledge and vast expertise with the wast collection industry, from North America  & Europe and can help your organization to achieve operational excellence using a collection of recent technologies.

Discuss your project with us and take advantage of the expertise and flexibility provided by independent consultants.

How can Dynathrone help?

We help our clients by providing:

• Advice on running requirements gathering exercises gained from being involved in many requirements gathering and definition exercises in various sectors.
• Expertise in a variety of requirements captures methodologies. For example, use case based, scenario based, or stories based.
• Consultants to lead requirements capture and definition exercises.