Dive Brief:
- The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) is planning to install Enevo sensors in trash cans across Washington's Chinatown and Anacostia neighborhoods in the next two months, according to Technically DC.
- With help from analytics company Maalko, BID will use data from the sensors to optimize pickup schedules and bin placements. The data may also allow local businesses to earn points toward LEED certifications.
- BID is also working on other initiatives to improve downtown Washington including developing streetscapes and installing walk signals at key intersections.
Dive Insight:
In congested cities like Washington, it's crucial that waste companies are operating at their most efficient levels to provide waste management services to the thousands of residents and tourists that depend on it. Implementing Enevo's sensors into bins will likely heighten these levels of efficiency because fleet managers will now be able to customize routes dependent on the bins that need to be emptied — a practice which has been implemented in cities like New York. Additionally Enevo prides itself on having an open API, so other platforms — like Maalko — can assist in this process.
The smart sensors are just another step that the District is making to cleanup the city and improve sustainability. The city banned Styrofoam this year as a way to reduce pollution, specifically in the nearby Anacostia River, and in April the DC Department of Public Works hosted a Waste & Recycling Haulers Forum to discuss waste management innovations and programs across the city. As these efforts prove to be successful, the nation's capital will likely see more actions and programs put in place to keep neighborhoods tidy and customers content.
