IoT-Enabled Waste Reduction and Recycling to Alleviate Environmental Hazards

The rapid pace of urbanization and industrialization has resulted in an alarming increase in the amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste generated globally. This waste not only occupies a considerable amount of landfills but also causes severe environmental hazards. In this context, IoT-based waste management is emerging as a promising solution for reducing the amount of waste generated and mitigating environmental hazards. This paper proposes an IoT-enabled waste reduction and recycling approach specifically designed for the C&D sector. The proposed approach incorporates weight sensors, motion sensors, and fill level sensors to facilitate efficient waste management. Weight sensors are used to measure the weight of waste materials in real-time, while motion sensors detect the movement of waste materials during transportation and disposal. Fill level sensors are used to monitor the level of waste materials in waste containers and to optimize waste collection routes. The collected data from the sensors is processed in real-time through an IoT platform that provides comprehensive waste management analytics. The proposed system also includes a waste sorting module that utilizes image processing techniques to identify and sort different types of waste materials. The sorted waste materials can then be reused, recycled, or sold to secondary markets. The implementation of the proposed approach will result in reduced waste generation, increased waste recycling, and improved environmental conditions. Moreover, the proposed system is designed to be scalable and can be deployed in different regions to address local waste management challenges. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of IoT-based waste management approaches for reducing environmental hazards caused by construction and demolition waste.