1.5 Improving efficiency of waste collection and transport

Summary

This module explores factors affecting waste collection efficiency, offering strategies to enhance cost-effectiveness. Key points include optimizing bin placement and routing to reduce travel, minimizing loading times with technology, considering transport distances for transfer stations, selecting appropriate vehicles, reducing downtime, and emphasizing training for staff. Monitoring performance with tools like GPS trackers is crucial for continuous improvement. Effective communication with residents and waste generators is also highlighted for better service delivery.

Takeaways

• 🚚 **Optimize Routing**: Efficient waste collection starts with strategic bin placement and optimized neighborhood routing to avoid repeated road coverage.
• 📏 **Placement Matters**: Bins should be placed within 200 meters from houses to encourage waste disposal and ensure full area coverage.
• ⏱️ **Reduce Loading Time**: Implement automatic lifting mechanisms and kerbside collection to decrease the time spent on loading waste.
• 🔄 **Avoid Cross Traffic Turns**: Plan routes to minimize turns that cross traffic, especially for left-side driving, to avoid right-hand turns.
• 🚛 **Choose the Right Vehicle**: Select vehicles based on local availability, dimensions, body volume, payload, and crew requirements to match waste collection needs.
• 🔩 **Human Factor**: Even with advanced technology, the human factor in waste collection is crucial; ensure proper use of equipment like containers.
• 🚦 **Consider Transfer Stations**: For transport distances over 20 km, use transfer stations to switch from smaller to larger vehicles for cost efficiency.
• 💡 **Innovative Solutions**: Utilize technology like hydraulic tipping for unloading and GPS trackers for monitoring vehicle locations and performance.
• 🛠️ **Maintenance and Downtime**: Minimize vehicle downtime by relying on well-represented brands, having skilled mechanics, and conducting preventive maintenance.
• 🌐 **Communication is Key**: Establish open communication with residents and collection teams to address issues promptly and improve the collection process.
• 📈 **Monitor and Measure**: Use tools like GPS trackers and weigh bridges to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement in waste collection.

Q & A

What factors influence the cost efficiency of waste collection?

The cost efficiency of waste collection is influenced by equipment choices, time inefficiencies such as idle time, placement of collection points, routing, loading time, transport distance, vehicle selection, downtime, and staff training.

How can the placement of waste collection bins be optimized?

Bins should be placed at strategic locations and grouped together to decrease the truck's stop and go time, ensuring they are not more than 200 meters away from houses to encourage use by residents.

Why is it important to avoid turns that cross traffic in waste collection routing?

To increase efficiency, it's advised to avoid turns that cross traffic, such as right-hand turns when driving on the left side, to reduce time spent on maneuvering and potential delays.

What are some methods to decrease loading time in waste collection?

Methods include automatic lifting of containers, using hook containers with side openings, and kerbside collection with low loading heights.

Why is the positioning of a collection point with a hook container important?

The correct positioning of a collection point with a hook container is crucial for the use of ramps, which allow smaller vehicles to discharge into the container more easily.

What is the significance of transport distance in waste collection?

If the transport distance exceeds 20 kilometers, it's often more cost-efficient to use a transfer station where waste is transferred from smaller vehicles to larger ones for longer distance transport.

How can the choice of vehicle used for waste collection affect efficiency?

The choice of vehicle affects efficiency through its dimensions, body volume, payload, crew requirements, cost, and operation costs, all of which influence the cost per ton of waste collected.

What is the impact of vehicle downtime on waste collection efficiency?

Downtime, or the time a vehicle is out of service for repairs, reduces efficiency. Using locally well-represented brands and establishing well-organized mechanic workshops can help minimize downtime.

How can driver training increase fuel efficiency in waste collection?

Training drivers in fuel-efficient driving techniques can reduce fuel consumption by over 20 percent, thus increasing efficiency.

What role does communication play in waste collection efficiency?

Communication is crucial for reducing delays, providing feedback for improvement, and informing residents about new developments. It also helps in managing the vehicle fleet and addressing problems quickly.

How can monitoring and supervision improve waste collection efficiency?

Monitoring and supervision help identify bottlenecks, plan preventive maintenance, and streamline the collection process through the use of tools like GPS trackers and electronic on-board recorders.

Outlines

00:00

🚚 Waste Collection Efficiency

This paragraph discusses the factors affecting waste collection costs, including equipment choices and time inefficiencies such as idle trucks. It introduces strategies to improve cost efficiency, like optimizing container placement and routing to reduce the need for repeated road coverage. The importance of not placing bins too far from residences, with a 200-meter radius suggested as a maximum distance, is highlighted. The paragraph also touches on improving routing to avoid crossing traffic and reducing loading times through automation and kerbside collection. The human factor in waste management is emphasized, along with the proper use of technology. Lastly, the impact of transport distance on efficiency is discussed, suggesting the use of transfer stations for distances beyond 20 kilometers.

05:02

🛠️ Enhancing Waste Collection Operations

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of waste collection vehicle selection, emphasizing the importance of choosing vehicles that are common in the local market for easier servicing. It outlines factors to consider when selecting vehicles, such as dimensions, body volume, payload, crew requirements, and operational costs including fuel consumption and maintenance. The paragraph provides a comparison of different vehicle types based on density, body volume, and cost per ton of waste collected. It also addresses the importance of reducing vehicle downtime through local brand reliance, well-organized mechanic workshops, and simplified procurement rules. Additionally, it mentions the role of driver training in increasing fuel efficiency and overall operational efficiency, as well as the need for communication with waste generators to reduce collection delays.

10:04

📊 Monitoring and Communication for Waste Collection

The final paragraph emphasizes the role of monitoring and supervision in waste collection efficiency. It suggests integrating crew and driver feedback to streamline processes and using tools like GPS trackers and electronic on-board recorders for monitoring. The importance of measuring vehicle and staff performance to identify bottlenecks and plan maintenance is highlighted. The paragraph also discusses the need for open communication channels with residents for feedback and informing them about new developments. It mentions the use of GPS trackers for fleet management and the importance of training and educating staff to increase efficiency and safety. The summary concludes with recommendations for further reading on waste collection in developing countries, suggesting two books available for download.

Keywords

💡Waste Collection Cost

Waste collection cost refers to the expenses incurred in the process of gathering and transporting waste materials from various collection points to disposal or treatment facilities. In the video, it is emphasized that this cost is significantly influenced by the choice of equipment and time inefficiencies, such as idle time of trucks waiting to be loaded with waste. The video aims to provide insights on how to improve cost efficiency in waste collection.

💡Inefficiencies

Inefficiencies in the context of the video pertain to any factor or practice that leads to wasted time, resources, or energy in the waste collection and transport process. Examples given include idle time of trucks, inefficient routing, and long loading times. The video discusses these inefficiencies and offers suggestions on how to mitigate them to improve overall efficiency.

💡Routing

Routing in waste collection refers to the planned path that waste collection vehicles follow to collect waste from various points. The video discusses the importance of strategic routing to minimize the distance traveled and the number of times a road is traversed, which can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency. An example provided is avoiding right-hand turns to streamline the collection process.

💡Collection Points

Collection points are the designated locations where waste is accumulated for collection, such as bins or dumpsters. The video emphasizes the strategic placement of these points to minimize the distance residents need to travel to dispose of their waste and to optimize the collection route for trucks, suggesting a maximum distance of 200 meters from residences for convenience.

💡Loading Time

Loading time is the duration it takes to load waste onto collection vehicles. The video identifies reducing loading time as a key factor in increasing efficiency. It provides examples of inefficient loading practices, such as manual loading and high loading heights, and suggests solutions like automatic lifting mechanisms and kerbside collection to expedite the process.

💡Transfer Stations

Transfer stations are facilities where waste is transferred from smaller vehicles to larger ones for more efficient long-distance transport. The video mentions that when transport distances exceed 20 kilometers, using transfer stations becomes advisable due to the cost efficiency of moving larger loads with larger vehicles.

💡Vehicle Choice

The choice of vehicle used for waste collection is crucial and can impact the efficiency and cost of operations. The video advises considering local market availability, vehicle dimensions, body volume, payload, crew requirements, and operational costs such as fuel consumption and maintenance when selecting vehicles. It also compares different vehicle types based on their capacity to transport waste and their associated costs.

💡Downtime

Downtime in the context of waste collection refers to the period during which vehicles are out of service due to breakdowns or repairs. The video stresses the importance of reducing downtime to increase efficiency, suggesting reliance on locally well-represented brands for easier access to spare parts and skilled mechanics, as well as establishing well-organized mechanic workshops for preventive maintenance.

💡Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency pertains to the amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle to travel a certain distance. The video highlights fuel efficiency as a key aspect of operational cost and suggests training drivers in fuel-efficient driving techniques to reduce fuel consumption by over 20 percent, thereby decreasing costs and environmental impact.

💡Monitoring and Supervision

Monitoring and supervision involve the continuous observation and management of waste collection operations to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement. The video mentions the use of GPS trackers, electronic on-board recorders, and weigh bridges at disposal sites as tools for monitoring. It emphasizes the importance of feedback from crew and drivers, as well as open communication channels with residents and the collection team, for effective management and service improvement.

💡Communication

Communication in waste collection involves the exchange of information between various stakeholders, including residents, waste generators, collection teams, and management. The video underscores the importance of open communication channels for feedback, suggestions, complaints, and updates on new developments. It also highlights the use of GPS trackers for real-time vehicle location tracking to aid in rapid problem-solving and efficient fleet management.

Highlights

Waste collection cost is influenced by equipment choices and time inefficiencies.

Module covers factors of inefficiency in waste collection and transport.

Suggestions provided on improving cost efficiency in waste collection.

Importance of identifying inefficiencies in waste collection in your own city.

The placement of waste collection containers and routing can affect efficiency.

Strategic bin placement can decrease truck stop and go time.

Bins should not be placed too far from houses, ideally within 200 meters.

New bin locations can improve routing and avoid unnecessary traffic turns.

Efficiency can be increased by decreasing loading time with automated systems.

Proper positioning of collection points is crucial for technology to be effective.

Transport distance plays a role in efficiency; transfer stations can be considered beyond 20 km.

Choice of vehicle for waste collection is crucial and should be based on local market availability.

Vehicle dimensions, body volume, and payload should be considered based on waste amounts and route lengths.

Cost of the vehicle and its operation, including fuel consumption and maintenance, affect efficiency.

Downtime of vehicles can be reduced by relying on well-represented local brands and organized maintenance.

Fuel efficiency can be increased through driver training.

Communication with waste generators is key to reducing delays.

Monitoring and feedback are essential for continuous improvement in waste collection.

Performance measurement helps identify bottlenecks and plan preventive maintenance.

Open communication channels with residents and the collection team are vital for efficiency.

Two recommended books on waste collection in developing countries are mentioned for further reading.

Transcripts

Waste collection cost is strongly influenced by choices in equipment

and by time inefficiencies, like the idle time of this truck waiting for ages to be loaded with waste.

In this module, we'll be covering the factors of inefficiency in waste collection and transport,

with some suggestions on how to improve on cost efficiency.

So hopefully after this module, you will be able to identify the reasons for inefficiencies in waste collection,

for instance in your own city, and be able to provide some suggestions on how to improve on efficiency in collection.

One aspect is the placement of the containers or points of collection and the routing in a neighbourhood.

Let's take a look at this example of a neighbourhood.

If you would want to collect all these yellow bins, you would have to follow a route that for instance takes you this way,

which would imply that sometimes, you have to cover the same stretch of road twice.

So how could you improve the routing and placement of bins?

For instance, you could place your bins at strategic locations and set them together to decrease the time of stop and go for your truck, as shown here in this example.

However, you must check if the bins are not too far away from the houses,

as else, the residents will not bring their waste to the bins.

A distance of 200 meters is a good reference as maximum distance.

So now, if you circle the area from the bins with a radius of 200 metres, you can see what area these bins can approximately cover.

And then, if you do this for all the bin locations, you can see that the whole area is well-covered.

So now, with these new bin locations, you can improve the routing.

Try to avoid turns that cross traffic.

So if you drive on the left side, that means: Avoid right-hand turns!

A second factor to increase efficiency is to decrease loading time.

These three examples show inefficient loading.

For example: waiting for the people to bring their waste or manual loading of the waste

or finally a very high loading height, which decreases the efficiency.

The examples below show some measures to decrease the loading time.

For instance with automatic lifting of the containers,

the lifting of a hook container

or by kerbside collection,

using bags and a very low loading height.

A note on containers or collection point:

What you see here is a collection point with a hook container with side openings for easier access.

What you also see is a ramp that allows smaller vehicles to easier discharge into the container.

But you also see the problem: The container is located at the wrong position.

It should actually be here on the side of the ramp - else, the ramp cannot be used.

This example shows that technology is not enough.

Although this is an appropriate technology, it is not used correctly.

The truck driver has not placed the container at the right location.

So it is important to always include the human factor.

Another factor is transport distance.

This is the distance from when your truck is full after collection to the point where you need to deliver the waste, be this a disposal site or treatment facility.

When the transport distance increases beyond 20 kilometres, then most often it is advisable to consider a transfer station.

Here, the waste is transferred from a smaller vehicle to a larger one.

Transporting a larger load with a larger vehicle is more cost-efficient.

Here are some examples of transfer stations:

Above using a large truck - in fact some cities might even use train waggons or barges.

The example below from India shows a transfer station

where the load from the smaller trucks is unloaded into a storage bunker,

and then from there transferred to larger trucks with a truck excavator grapple.

Once the waste arrives at the disposal point, it will depend on how fast the truck can be unloaded.

A very inefficient example is shown here, where the waste is manually unloaded;

in contrast this example with a hydraulic tipping and unloading of the truck body.

Another aspect I would like to highlight is the choice of the vehicle used for waste collection.

There is a wide variety of vehicles available on the market.

Whatever your choice, I would strongly recommend to check the local market.

Choosing a vehicle that is common in your region often also means that it can be serviced more easily.

Other criteria that should influence your choice of vehicles are on one hand of course the dimensions -

width depends on street conditions, body volume and payload.

These two factors will depend on waste amounts and the route lengths

and the number of trips per day that the vehicle should make.

Then there is also the number of crew that is needed to operate the vehicle,

which impacts on the operational cost of the vehicle through the salaries needed for the crew.

Finally, there's also the cost of the vehicle and the cost of its operation such as fuel consumption, maintenance cost etc.

All these factors will reflect on the costs per ton of waste collected.

This table shows a comparison of different vehicle types, starting off with the density of 350 kilograms per cubic meter.

You can see that the compactor increases the density, but on the other hand, it has less body volume

because a part of the volume is taken up by the machinery.

So now, if you multiply body volume by density, what you get is 1200 in this case,

6300 for the open body truck

and 5850 for the compactor truck.

So you see that the compactor truck under these circumstances of density can actually transport less than an open body truck.

If you then compare other factors in terms of performance, you can then calculate the cost per day of the vehicle,

compare this with the waste per day you can collect, which then gives you a cost per kilogram or ton of waste collected.

Another aspect of increasing efficiency is to reduce the downtime of vehicles.

That means the time that the vehicle is out of service, broken and waiting to be repaired.

Relying on locally well-represented brands increases the chances that spare parts can be easily obtained -

and that there are skilled mechanics familiar with these brands.

A further aspect is to establish a well-functioning and well-organized mechanic workshop

that conducts preventive inspections and maintenance to avoid the truck even breaking down.

Also, it is important to simplify procurement rules and regulations so that when spare parts are needed, they can quickly be organized and the truck quickly fixed.

Another element to increase efficiency is especially increasing fuel efficiency - and that involves training of the drivers.

Here are some core tips for fuel efficient driving.

They can reduce fuel consumption by over 20 percent.

Also, training of staff can increase efficiency -

on one hand in terms of risks and safety to avoid accidents, but also to speed up the collection process.

One aspect is also the communication with the waste generators.

It is important to reduce delays when collecting the waste.

Monitoring and supervision is important to always strive for further improvements.

Feedback from the crew and drivers on how things could be improved should be really integrated,

and observations might also help in streamlining the collection process.

Measuring performance of vehicle and staff is important for various reasons;

on one hand to identify bottlenecks, but also to plan for preventive maintenance.

GPS trackers and electronic on-board recorders are innovative devices that can help with monitoring.

A weigh bridge at the disposal site will help identify the amount of waste collection.

Remember: Monitoring is crucial, as data availability is a step towards improving management.

Finally, some last words on communication:

Ensuring open communication channels with the beneficiaries, the residents, is important

to get their feedback and their suggestions as well as their complaints,

and be able to inform them about new developments.

Ensuring communication with the collection team from a central location is also crucial

to know if delays are expected or finding ways to solve problems rapidly.

GPS trackers can visualise to a central location where the truck is at the moment,

giving management an overview of the vehicle fleet.

So in summary, in this module, we have looked at different factors that influence efficiency in waste collection:

optimization of collection points and routing,

decreasing the loading time, longer distance, use transfer stations,

decrease vehicle emptying times, choose vehicles appropriately, monitor and supervise performance,

train and educate staff, and communicate and cooperate, especially with the waste generators.

As mentioned, I would like to recommend these two excellent books on waste collection in developing countries.

They are available for download in the list of key readings, but also on the Internet and they give much more details on all the aspects I have discussed here.

Thanks for watching.