Cascade Engineering launches household waste tracking system

JasonYoo

Cascade Engineering launches household waste tracking system [Copy link]

[Abstract] Cascade Engineering has launched an automated system consisting of smart trash bins, data readers and scales for use on garbage trucks. The system helps reduce landfill costs, reduce theft of trash bins, and prevent illegal dumping of garbage. Cascade

Engineering has launched an automated system consisting of smart trash bins , data readers and scales for use on garbage trucks in cities and towns across the country to promote waste recycling and charge residents according to the weight of the garbage they place on the roadside.

The EcoNology system, developed by Cascade of Grand Rapids, Michigan, records each household's trash disposal habits by embedding RFID chips in plastic trash carts. Data sensors on the garbage trucks read the RFID chips as the carts are lifted by forks. The forks have scales, and the onboard computer records the cart's weight. The data is then transmitted to the trash haulers, who charge residents for the weight of the trash they dump and reward families for their efforts to recycle.

Cascade unveiled the new system at this year's Trash Expo in Las Vegas, the main trade show for the waste industry. In addition to making plastic push carts, Cascade is a major supplier of plastic parts for the industrial market and automotive manufacturers, and offers other products under the Cascade Engineering brand.

"We adopted the name EcoNology because we are using technology to improve our nation's ecology," said Michael Lewis, head of solid waste solutions at the company. "Our company believes that the U.S. needs to recycle more waste, and EcoNology offers a great way to reward recycling and charge households based on how much solid waste they would otherwise landfill or incinerate."

We see this as the next logical step on the path to scientific management of our nation’s solid waste. The EcoNology system provides municipalities and waste haulers with the tools they need to make the case for how responsible waste disposal can save them money while improving the environment.

The benefits of the EcoNology system are:

In terms of landfill, waste disposal companies can collect detailed information on waste recycling and operations, reducing landfill disposal costs.

In terms of asset management, the unique RFID tags embedded in the waste bins can reduce bin theft, prevent illegal dumping, and track all activities throughout the life cycle.

In terms of improving operations, automated data collection helps optimize the use of garbage trucks, keep records of garbage bin maintenance, and streamline billing for customers.

Such a system would provide the data municipalities often need to submit in order to receive federal or state subsidies for recycling programs.

As for encouraging recycling, the system measures weight to the nearest pound and is certified as a "national class-rated program," meaning it could be used to issue rebates and coupons to residents who recycle diligently, as RecycleBank is doing in Philadelphia with Cascade and LTS Scale.

Cascade tested the viability of an automated data tracking system through a pilot project in Philadelphia to encourage recycling through RecycleBank, which distributed RFID-enabled trash bins to 5,000 households in two neighboring boroughs of Philadelphia.

Participants receive a $5 coupon for every 10 pounds of trash paper, bottles or cans they hand in a week. A household can earn $25 in coupons per month. The coupons can be redeemed at local or national retailers. In this way, the city saves on trash hauling, households get a benefit, and the company saves on advertising.

Lewis said the program has been very successful in encouraging more people to recycle more. The percentage of households in the pilot area that recycle has increased from 25% when the program began last spring to 90%. Not only have more households participated, but they have also recycled more. Compared with residents who recycle almost everything, the average recycling rate has increased from 5% to more than 50%.

Lewis said that because of its initial success, the program was expanded two months ago to Chester and Montcomerty counties outside Philadelphia. Several other counties in the Northeast are also considering adopting the system.

Source: Shengying RF Network