Smart Bins for Waste Management

Smart Bins for Waste Management

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In 2020, Ireland generated 3.2 million tonnes of ‘municipal waste’. Of the 3.2 million tonnes, some 1.3 million tonnes were recycled in Ireland in 2020. This level of recycling produced a rate of 41%, meaning Ireland still has many improvements to make ahead of meeting EU recycling targets for 2025-2032 (up to 65% in 2035). The rate of recycling in Ireland was 29% in 2020, but it must reach 50% by 2025.

From an EPA Municipal Waste Characteristics Study 2018, the breakdown of findings for business waste found:

  • The share of cardboard has dramatically declined as a proportion of non-household waste, suggesting effective separate collection is taking place in commercial sectors.
  • 14,000 tonnes of coffee cups are being generated annually, making up 2% of non-household waste.
  • Tissue paper accounts for 10% of non-household waste.
  • Better Segregation of waste is needed to address the 70% of the General Waste bin that could potentially be collected in the brown bin or recycling bin.

Enviro FM offers sustainable facilities management solutions to the Irish market to help support large commercial and industrial facilities to achieve EU Goals from 2025-2035. By partnering with Envirogreen Recycling and PEL Waste Management Solutions, we offer smart waste management solutions to your facilities.

Enviro FM can help commercial clients address the need for better segregation of waste being put into general waste bins for incineration.

This article outlines:

  • Waste management
  • The Importance of Waste Management for facilities,
  • Smart bins and Smart technologies
  • The benefits of Smart bins for your facility

Waste Management

Waste management is the process of collecting, transporting, and disposing of waste materials generated by the day-to-day operations of your facility. It is an essential aspect of facilities management as it not only promotes environmental sustainability but also reduces costs associated with waste disposal. With the rise of smart technologies and Enviro FM partnering with PEL Waste Management Solutions, the waste management process has become more efficient and cost-effective than ever before.

Clients who work with Enviro FM can enjoy a streamlined facilities management package and other services such as facility waste management audits and carbon off-setting solutions on the back of the identified savings.

The Importance of Waste Management for Facilities

Facilities generate a significant amount of waste material daily. Without proper waste management, this waste can become hazardous and a risk to the facility and the well-being of occupants, which can lead to various health hazards. Furthermore, improper waste management can also damage the environment by contaminating full loads of recyclable materials with a non-recyclable disposable coffee cup, for example. If a recyclable load becomes contaminated, the whole load must then be sent to a landfill.

Therefore, it is essential for facilities to manage their waste in an efficient and sustainable manner. By implementing a proper waste management plan, facilities can reduce their environmental footprint, comply with regulations, and create a healthier and safer workplace.

Smart Technologies for Smart Bins

As technology continues to advance, waste management has become more efficient and streamlined. One such technology is the smart bin or BriteBin ™. BriteBin ™ is equipped with sensors that detect when a bin is full and automatically send a signal to the waste management team for collection. This eliminates the need for manual monitoring by staff, which enables staff to save time and concentrate on other tasks in the facility. Smart IoT bins with sensors also reduce the risk of overflowing bins, with the PEL IoT smart bin taking real-time fill level readings every 3 seconds. The reading of the bin takes 0.1 seconds to take and then send a signal reporting the level of waste in the bin.

Additionally, smart bins like the BriteBin ™ are equipped with compaction technology, which compresses the waste material until maximum capacity is reached, allowing for more waste to be stored in a single bin. As with the PEL IoT bin, the fill level is taken every 3 seconds. Once full, the BriteBin™ data management platform sends Enviro FM’s facilities management team a notification for collection. This results in fewer collections which reduces the overall cost of waste management and helps create a lower carbon footprint.

An environmental plus for BriteBin ™ is that they are Solar powered by daylight factor. These smart bins remove the need for single-use plastic bin liners and the 2 variations of the bins have 10-times (120 litres) and 20-times (240 litres) the capacity of regular street bins.

Benefits of Having Smart Bins at your Facility

Implementing smart bins at your facility can offer several benefits, including:

  • Increased efficiency

Smart bins eliminate the need for manual monitoring, resulting in more efficient waste collection and disposal. PEL IoT Smart Bins send notifications when a bin reaches maximum capacity.

  • Reduced Cost

By reducing the number of collections needed, smart bins can significantly reduce the overall cost of waste management.

  • Improved Hygiene:

PEL smart bins are either contactless or operate with a foot pedal meaning that users can easily dispose of waste without contaminating their hands.

  • Enhanced Sustainability

By reducing waste and promoting recycling, smart bins promote environmental sustainability and help facilities meet their sustainability goals by reducing waste collections contributing to a lower carbon footprint. PEL BriteBin ™ has compacting technology to enable more waste to be collected before collection. Collections of smart bins reduce by 90%.

  • Better Data Management

Smart bins can collect and analyse data on waste generation, allowing facilities to identify areas of improvement and optimize their waste management strategies by analysing trends over time. Data collected can empower facility users to follow a waste management plan provided by Enviro FM over a period of months, with regular audits carried out by Enviro FM to ensure the data is trending positively.

Waste management is an essential aspect of facilities management. With Enviro FM in partnership with PEL, the range of BriteBins™ and other waste management products has made the process more efficient and cost-effective than ever before.

You can contact Enviro today to arrange for us to conduct a waste management audit and methodology for the improvement of your facility’s waste management today.

By implementing smart bins at your facility, you can improve efficiency, reduce costs, promote sustainability, and create a healthier and safer workplace.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2020, Ireland generated 3.2 million tonnes of ‘municipal waste’. Of the 3.2 million tonnes, some 1.3 million tonnes were recycled in Ireland in 2020.
  • The rate of recycling in Ireland was 29% in 2020, but it must reach 50% by 2025.
  • Waste management is the process of collecting, transporting, and disposing of waste materials generated by the day-to-day operations of your facility.
  • If a recyclable load becomes contaminated, the whole load must then be sent to a landfill.
  • By implementing a proper waste management plan, facilities can reduce their environmental footprint, comply with regulations, and create a healthier and safer workplace.
  • Smart bins are equipped with sensors that detect when a bin is full and automatically send a signal to the waste management team for collection.
  • Smart bins like the BriteBin ™ are equipped with compaction technology, which compresses the waste material until maximum capacity is reached, allowing for more waste to be stored in a single bin.
The Importance of Carbon Capturing

The Importance of Carbon Capturing

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In the modern world, we are constantly bombarded with news about the effects of climate change on our environment. The European Union has set ambitious climate action goals for 2030, with the Commission proposing to raise the EU’s target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.

Therefore, it is no surprise that companies are under increasing pressure and scrutiny to take action to reduce their carbon footprint. One area where businesses can make a significant difference is in their office spaces.

By investing in carbon-capturing technology, building owners and users can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, improving air quality, and making a positive impact on employee health and performance.

The Benefits of Carbon Capturing for Employee Performance

Indoor air quality is a crucial factor that can affect employee productivity, health, and well-being. Poor air quality can lead to symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, which can lower productivity and lead to absenteeism. Carbon dioxide is a common indoor air pollutant, and when levels are high, it can cause drowsiness and difficulty concentrating. A study conducted in a mechanically ventilated office in southern England suggests that task scores performed when carbon levels were above 800ppm were 15% lower than tasks performed in Co2 levels below 800ppm.

Carbon-capturing technology can help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, leading to improved air quality and a more comfortable working environment. Studies have shown that improving indoor air quality can lead to increased productivity and fewer sick days, which can positively impact a company’s bottom line.

Why Businesses Should Invest in Carbon Capturing with Enviro FM

Aside from the benefits of improved air quality, investing in carbon-capturing technology can also be a cost-effective solution for reducing your company’s carbon footprint, contributing significantly to ESG goals. The technology we use works by capturing carbon dioxide from the air and storing it in the Soletair Power indoor Carbon-capturing unit.

Technology also available from Enviro FM in partnership with Soletair Power is the Direct Air Capture (DAC) unit. This unit can be integrated with a building’s existing HVAC system and used to capture carbon in the air supplied to the building ventilation. Typically, for a standard ventilation unit, the DAC unit will produce 47kg of carbon per day that can then be converted into Hydrogen and methanol, which is renewable energy capable of powering offices. Another option for the captured carbon is to sell it per tonne for carbon credits.

By investing in carbon-capturing technology, companies can not only reduce their carbon emissions but also demonstrate their commitment to sustainability to employees, customers, and other stakeholders. This can help to attract and retain talent, boost brand reputation, and increase customer loyalty.

Carbon Capturing’s Contributions to Reaching ESG Goals

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals have become increasingly important for companies looking to align with global sustainability targets. By investing in carbon-capturing technology, businesses can make a significant contribution to their ESG goals by reducing their carbon emissions and demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability.

Enviro FM is helping Irish Businesses capture carbon using Soletair Power indoor carbon-capturing units in busy office spaces. The Indoor carbon-capturing unit takes carbon through its HEPA filter, located at the top of the machine, stores it for the day (regular office hours), and recycles the captured carbon back into the air when all employees have left the office.

Carbon capturing can also contribute to social and governance goals. For example, by improving indoor air quality, companies can create a more comfortable and healthier work environment for employees. This can lead to increased employee satisfaction and retention, which can have positive impacts on social and governance aspects.

To Summarise

Carbon capturing technology is an innovative and effective solution for reducing a company’s carbon footprint while also improving indoor air quality and employee performance. Investing in carbon-capturing technology, such as Soletair Power’s, can also help businesses achieve their ESG goals and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

By prioritising carbon capturing in their office spaces, building owners and users can contribute to a more sustainable future while reaping the benefits of improved air quality and employee performance.

If your business wants to make a positive impact on the environment while also improving the health and productivity of your employees, speak to our carbon-capturing experts today to learn about how our range of Soletair Power products can benefit you.

Key Takeaways

  • The European Union has set ambitious climate action goals for 2030, with the Commission proposing to raise the EU’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.
  • Indoor air quality is a crucial factor that can affect employee productivity, health, and well-being. Poor air quality can lead to symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, which can lower productivity and lead to absenteeism.
  • Studies have shown that improving indoor air quality can lead to increased productivity and fewer sick days, which can positively impact a company’s bottom line.
  • By investing in carbon-capturing technology, companies can not only reduce their carbon emissions but also demonstrate their commitment to sustainability to employees, customers, and other stakeholders.
  • By investing in carbon-capturing technology, businesses can make a significant contribution to their ESG goals by reducing their carbon emissions.
  • Carbon capturing can also contribute to social and governance goals. For example, by improving indoor air quality, companies can create a more comfortable and healthier work environment for employees. This can lead to increased employee satisfaction and retention, which can have positive impacts on social and governance aspects.