Enevo is everything that is great about the startup world. A simple yet fantastically effective solution to a problem that no one even knew was a problem. It may be easy(ish) to think of a great idea when there is a void in a certain field.
However real kudos should be given here, as Enevo looked at trash collection, something billions of people around the world look at every single day, and Enevo saw something no one else could see. They saw a solution in a place where no one else even saw a problem. That’s proper hardcore entrepreneurship.
The trouble is that people will get used to almost anything and any situation. That is exactly why Enevo deserves so much credit. Most of us take out our trash bins whenever they are full and the garbage truck does the same route over and over again and empties our trash. Most of us accept this solution as it works and we got used to it over the years. Enevo however has found a genius solution that is so simple it’s almost ridicules that the idea hasn’t been thought up years ago.
What was the problem ?
Up until now, collecting waste has been done using static routes and schedules where containers are collected every day or every week regardless of whether they are full or not. If you think about it, you could theoretically have a situation in which the entire route of the garbage truck has empty trash cans. So you can have hundreds of trucks driving around the country attempting to collect garbage from empty trash cans. Isn’t that an awful waste?
Where does Enevo come in?
Enevo changes all this by using smart wireless sensors to gather fill-level data from waste containers. The service then automatically generates schedules and optimised routes which take into account an extensive set of parameters (future fill-level projections, truck availability, traffic information, road restrictions etc.). New schedules and routes are planned not only looking at the current situation, but considering the future outlook as well.
How exactly does it work?
There are 3 main stages to the Enevo process
- Fill measurement – Small battery powered wireless sensors monitor each container’s fill level in real time. The sensors are firmly attached and hidden away out of sight inside the container. Waste monitoring works with any type of container and any type of waste (mixed, paper, glass, bio, metals and fluids such as oils and waste water etc.)
- Analysis and modelling – The data from each container is sent over wireless cellular networks to the Enevo servers for analysis and immediately displayed when you log on to the Enevo web site. Once logged in, you get a vast array of data such as: Real time fill level status, alerts for abnormal events (such as high temperature and movement), predicted fill-up dates, statistics, planning tools and more.
3. Forward route planning – Enevo then automatically provides a list of containers, schedules, and routes to the truck drivers with an API that integrates into most existing fleet management systems.
So basically…
Every garbage bin has a device fitted inside. This device can monitor how much space remains in the garbage bin and can even predict (based on usage) when the garbage bum is likely to be full. The information is sent to the local garbage collection company and a different route can be used everyday. Trucks will only be sent to bins that are actually full. It is possible that a huge truck will drive around neighbourhoods wasting time and petrol only to find that a very small amount of the bins actually need emptying.
The system allows real time monitoring of trash levels in each bin. This means that garbage trucks will only go where they are needed. The saving and efficiency that can be achieved are enormous. Fewer collections, fewer trucks needed, less fuel needed, less labor, less CO2 and emissions, no overfill on garbage cans and more. .
Be sure to watch their friendly video to see exactly how it works and visit their site for more information.
