Maximizing Waste Management Efficiency Through The Use Of RFID

Much attention has been given to our environment, the need to be more efficient and reduce the negative impact we have on it. Websites are dedicated to helping you measure your carbon footprint and provide tips to be more ‘green'. For example, the Yahoo® Green site notes each person produces roughly 4.5 lbs of waste a day. Though that seems like a macro example, what about the impact each household has on the environment with the amount of waste we throw into our trash cans or recycling bins? In fact, large and small city governments and municipalities are reviewing how they handle the collection processing and management of trash and recycled products. Most major cities have active recycling programs and thousands of cities have taken it a step further by making each household financially tied to their trash. This means that you pay for the amount of garbage you generate and, in some programs, households are offered incentives through credits or points for how much is recycled. In the following paper, we will discuss programs such as this which are collectively called Pay-as-You-Throw or PAYT.,

Additionally, we will take a look at how the waste hauler companies have a strong desire to help communities achieve their green goals while also improving their own processes. We will specifically discuss how technology is playing a vital role in waste hauling operations, the PAYT system and how the application of low frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is making a positive impact on the way communities address waste management.