In January 2023, Council will begin trialing an innovative approach to waste management enabling us to deliver a more efficient and responsive waste collection service for our community. The trial will last for three months.
How does it work?
One of our food and green waste collection trucks will be fitted with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader. An RFID is similar to the devices found in library books or retail garments.
Step 1 - When the truck empties a RFID-fitted food and green waste bin, it will collect data including the bin ID, location, and timestamp.
Step 2 - The driver will be able to report any issues with the bin/collection via an in-truck tablet.
Step 3 - A report is automatically created and allocated to the property in real time for our customer service team and waste officers to access.
Step 4 - Our waste team will then be able to generate any work orders needed to the truck driver via a notification on the in-truck tablet.
What data will be collected?
The RFID Bin Program will allow us to collect the following bin data:
- where a bin is collected, because each bin is tied to a property address
- when a bin is collected, with a time stamp
- when a bin is missed and not collected
- if there is an issue with a bin that our drivers note and lodge.
Data will be stored on a secure Australian server in line with the Privacy Act. Only authorised Council staff will have access to it, and the information will only be used for reviewing and improving our waste services. When the trial ends, this access and the data itself will be removed from the server.
How will the trial benefit our community?
Council currently relies upon paper-based reporting of bin properties. Digital data collection and reporting will allow us to deliver a more efficient and responsive waste service for our community.
Embedding smart technology into our waste collection service will support us to:
- monitor stolen, lost or misplaced bins better. The truck will see if a reported bin is scanned somewhere else
- identify areas with consistent waste issues, like overflowing bins
- provide more targeted community education and engagement in those areas
- give real-time information to our Customer Service team to respond to reports and questions better
- reduce the time it takes to respond to waste issues because our team will have accurate real-time data. You may even find an issue resolved before you need to report it!
What do you need to do?
Continue using your bins as usual.
Smart Cities
The RFID Bin Program trial is another example of Council utilising innovative technology to deliver an improved service for our community.
The City of Stonnington is embarking on our first smart cities strategy to look at how digital technology, data and innovation can support current and future challenges and improve our ability to deliver improved services to our community.
We've already started to see the benefits of some pilot projects:
- visitation sensors in Prahran Square that provide real-time information on usage of the space
- traffic monitoring at several locations around Chapel Street that provide numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and heavy vehicles
- on-street carparking availability in key locations
- smart benches offering free public WiFi
- remotely monitored adaptive public lighting at some of our parks and open spaces.
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