Dive Brief:

• Finnish startup Enevo has more than 10,000 trash containers in 35 countries that tweet their capacity and call for a pick-up when the container is full. Enevo says it saves up to 50% in costs and increases service quality by avoiding trash bin overflows and excess fleet utilization. 
• The company, which has raised $26.1 million in funding since 2012, is on track to hit 30,000 installed containers by the end of the year.
• CEO and founder Fredrik Kekäläinen told Politico that only cities can provide the degree of design and execution that is necessary to combat climate change. And with sufficient volumes, there are business opportunities. "It's a no-brainer that urbanization will only intensify in the coming years," he said.

Dive Insight:

Trash cans that tweet are part of a trend toward clean tech that includes New York City's trash cans with Wi-Fi hotspots, and Detroit and Iowa City's solar-powered waste collection sites.

Kekäläinen's startup is proof that big ideas can interest investors, as Enevo attracted $15.8 million last month alone. His product is being put to the test in urban environments, where energy-saving streetlights and other green waste-management practices can "achieve a certain critical mass," as Politico put it.

Big cities can lead the way in improving waste management while offering opportunities for the next smart technology.