A Cost-Effective System to Measure the Filling Percentage of Solid Waste Containers in Smart Cities

This paper presents a cost-effective system designed to measure the filling percentage of solid waste containers, aimed at enhancing waste management in smart cities. Utilizing low-cost sensors installed on garbage trucks, the system captures real-time data on the weight of the waste in each container. This data, combined with the garbage density, provides estimates of the filling levels of each container. The system involves minimal intervention on existing trucks and leverages data analytics for dynamic routing based on actual waste collection needs. Tested in Montevideo, Uruguay, the system demonstrated accuracy and reliability, suggesting a scalable solution for cities aiming to optimize waste collection services with low budget.