Trash can sensors have been installed on campus since February 2021 to revamp how the University of Idaho handles trash and lessens emissions.
They have become the second program in the United States to implement trash can sensors on campus, allowing them to know when bins are filled and influencing others to follow.
The project lead, UI Surplus and Solid Waste Supervisor Jeremy Mutart, was caught between a rock and a hard place when his team of two lost a member with their contract ending and being on a tight budget.
“One employee was temporary,” Mutart said. “I told him I need to fill your position, without filling your position.”
Aware of a steep budget, Mutart conducted a cost analysis on how much more it would cost him to hire a person compared to installing sensors.
“Hiring a person was $120,000 for 3 years,” Mutart said. “The cost savings in itself just made sense.”
Installing sensors would mean saving around $100,000 as well as significant time and energy with the ability to send topographic profiles and alerts when cans need to be emptied, instead of having to send a worker to check.
“They would hit every single can on campus in four to six hours,” Mutart said. “Now, I look at how many cans I need to do. Averaging at eight, I’m done in an hour and a half.”
56 concrete trash cans marked with the UI logo on campus have been installed. Three sensors will be added to cans in the arena and more will be installed in dumpsters.
According to the Sustainability Center’s Sustainability Coordinator Olivia Wiebe, the installation serves a 10-year-old climate-action plan that pledged carbon neutrality by 2030 for the university.
Since 2010, the Sustainability Center and UI as a whole have focused on alternative energy, reductions involving environmental protection, conservation and safety.
“When we look at a program that reduces the number of cars driving around and saves fuel resources, we are effectively lowering the emissions associated with waste collection,” Wiebe said.
The vehicle reduction has been incredibly beneficial in advancing the university’s environmental plan.
“The sensors have allowed not driving the entire loop,” Wiebe said. “It’s an acupuncture approach, where you can pinpoint ‘okay, this one needs to be picked up.’”
The installation also enables the potential of recycling, though not currently available at the university, and eases the load on the employees.
Mutart has played a significant part in problem-solving and executing the project for the environment, UI and solid waste.
“It’s really a win-win-win situation,” Wiebe said.
Michella Chowdhury can be reached at [email protected]