Digi Cellular Routers Revolutionize Waste Management Systems

Automated Monitoring and Maintenance Improve Waste Management Operations

Waste management isn’t often something that most people spend too much time thinking about - until it becomes a problem. For many businesses, especially those in the construction, retail, healthcare, and hospitality industries, waste management processes can majorly impact their businesses. To ensure that their facilities are clean and hygienic, their waste must be removed from their facility promptly.

That said, unnecessary expenditures - including too-frequent haulage - can eat into their carefully managed budgets.

A waste management consulting firm contacted MCA’s CNS Team to help engineer and deliver a solution to its customers. They offer waste management organizations, retailers, mall owners, and residential property owners the ability to monitor and manage waste equipment with real-time data.

Their proprietary software helps customers save as much as 60% in haulage costs by monitoring the performance of on-site waste containers, compactors, and other equipment. It also ensures that all removal services are provided in a timely and efficient manner.

The Challenge

Reducing Waste Management Costs For Customers With Real-Time Monitoring

The average waste removal client receives a weekly pickup of their solid waste containers, costing approximately $7,800 annually. Because of the organization’s deep understanding of the industry, they knew there was an opportunity to reduce those costs by monitoring container levels in real-time and eliminating unnecessary haulage trips.

With customers spread across the region, the monitoring solution they want to deploy would need wireless communications with remote management and maintenance capabilities.

The pivotal question in waste management - "How full is the compactor?" - spurred the organization to harness the power of IoT. The company's hardware engineer emphasized the significance of addressing this challenge: "It starts with a simple question that all of our customers are constantly asking: 'How full is the compactor?' This is a perfect scenario for a network of connected sensors that monitor the volume of trash in our containers and send alerts when thresholds are met."

Digi Routers for Waste Management Applications

Enter the customized IoT Tracking system - a veritable game-changer in waste management. With the IoT system, the organization can optimize the timing and frequency of truck visits by incorporating a network of connected sensors that monitor compactor fullness. This reduces costs and carbon footprints and extends the life of waste equipment. The hardware engineer highlighted the broader objective: "We developed the system to bring connectivity, visibility, and intelligence to the waste management process."

However, ensuring that the sensors were constantly - and reliably - connected to the network was critical to the success of the IoT system. Without constant monitoring, the system's data could be delayed, resulting in an inefficient system.

The Solution

Digi IX10 and IX20 Routers

To monitor and manage hundreds of waste containers spread across wide geographies with greater levels of efficiency, the organization utilized wireless communication to allow individual machines to indicate fullness remotely and that the units were working correctly and efficiently.

Their proprietary software, developed in-house, accesses onboard sensors via Digi IX10 and IX20 4G LTE routers to collect and deliver data by providing access to the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) on the compactors.

Additionally, the Digi IX20 enabled them to program in Python, enabled power inside the panel itself, and extended operating temperatures for rugged environments, which is incredibly important for their solution.

The data, in turn, supports services, production, purchasing, sales, and marketing functions and enables organizations to achieve cost savings. The software schedules pick-ups only when compactors reach a specified fullness level, eliminating the cost of unnecessary collections.

The system tracks parameters that communicate equipment health and system performance over time. By tracking compactor performance, service calls can be scheduled well before an actual breakdown, reducing repair costs and leading to fewer replacements. It also enables customers to detect and rectify compactor misuse, a common cause of breakdown.

The waste management organization offers its customers two hardware systems: one external system connected to the power pack of an existing compactor and another one built into the actual compactor, which offers additional capabilities. The team knows that putting the data to work makes the software valuable for their customers. After all, you can collect as much data as possible, but the only way to drive cost-savings and chances are to analyze it and take action on the results.

The Results

Increased Operational Efficiency and Greater Customer Value

Since their initial solution roll-out, the organization has deployed over 3,400 systems across North America. The combination of their proprietary platform and remote monitoring services has helped hundreds of customers decrease the number of compactors needed and put the compactors they do need to full use.

"The system network monitors all connected waste equipment, generating reports and alerting customers to any issues that require immediate attention," explained the hardware engineer.

The system stores alerts in a database for future analysis, contributing to ongoing algorithm improvements. The result is an optimized scheduling system that minimizes truck rolls, reduces costs, and lowers emissions - achieving a win-win scenario for all stakeholders.

Customers saw a reduction in scheduled pickups from every seven days to every thirteen days. This saved customers - and the waste and recycling programs that serve them - money, as hauler trips to collect containers were reduced by 360 miles in the first year alone.

Customers can save as much as 60% of current haulage costs through simple, easy-to-manage waste and recycling programs. Similarly, the organization can save money and improve its environmental impact by reducing service calls with early detection of operational faults.

The Benefits

Improved Efficiency and Reduced Hauls and Costs

Improved Operational Efficiency

Beyond revolutionizing hauling trips, the system's benefits extend to the operational efficiency of waste equipment. The engineer explained, "We can adjust the operation of the unit. We can reduce the number of compactions by 90% by eliminating unnecessary cycles. It saves energy, extends the life of the equipment, and reduces maintenance requirements. Instead of 'How full is the compactor?' the question pivots to 'How well is the compactor running?'"

Reducing Hauling Trips by 50%

The company's hardware engineer reported that some sites have witnessed a remarkable 50% reduction in hauling trips thanks to the system. With Digi supplying the connectivity, the application is improving efficiency and making significant sustainability strides. By sending data strategically, the system ensures that haulers are called precisely when needed, avoiding unnecessary pickups and associated environmental impact.

Empowering Customers, Reducing Costs

The organization has successfully deployed the system on over 5,000 pieces of equipment, empowering customers to make informed decisions about their waste management strategies. With simple issues resolved remotely, technician visits are reserved for complex situations, leading to a 17% reduction in service visits for some customers. The engineer expressed pride in the positive environmental impact, stating, "We're proud that this application is giving our customers the means to reduce the cost of waste and the impact on the environment."

About MCA and The CNS Team

MCA is one of the largest and most trusted integrators in the United States, offering world-class voice, data, and security solutions that enhance the quality, safety, and productivity of customers, operations, and lives. More than 65,000 customers trust MCA to provide carefully researched solutions for a safe, secure, and more efficient workplace.

Our Cellular Networking Solutions (CNS) team (formerly known as USAT) is made up of certified experts in designing and deploying fixed and mobile wireless data connectivity solutions for public and private enterprises nationwide - complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts.

Our extensive catalog of world-class routers, gateways, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments allows us to deliver a full suite of reliable technologies capped with a service-first approach.