Prague introduces smart bins to save energy and money

The smart solution will save CZK 300,000 annually in the central district alone

Prague joins the list of European cities with a smart system of waste collection. Following the positive examples from Ireland, Malta, Lisbon in Portugal and many other success stories that we shared with you, the Czech capital will introduce smart bins.

The smart recycle bins will alert authorities when they are full and need to be emptied. What is more, the whole process can be monitored using a simple mobile application. In the pilot project, the local authorities of Prague have placed 464 sensors in separate waste containers. Thanks to these sensors, it can be checked to what extent the containers are filled or whether they have been clogged.

A smart mobile app for waste management

You can browse the latest data by yourself in the My Prague application, which is free for iOS and Android. In the main menu, select "Public space" and then "Waste separation". Locations that have a signal symbol on the map shown in the icon are fitted with sensors and can show you detailed information.

But why smart recycle bins? Because it will enable the responsible authorities to collect waste more efficiently and manage it in a better way overall. We should no longer see overfill baskets, nor will capacity be wasted on transport of half-empty containers. This should also lead to reduced time of waste trucks in traffic and reduced carbon emissions.

Furthermore, there is an important financial efficiency dimension to the project: thanks to this smart solution, the annual savings for Prague 1 (a central district) alone will equal CZK 300,000.

“Exactly these solutions fit my vision of a smart, data-driven city. It makes me happy. Thanks to the ICT Operator team and Smart Prague!”, shared Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib on Facebook yesterday.

It is interesting to note that the capital is not the first city in Czechia to introduce smart waste collection – earlier this year the spa resort Karlovy Vary introduced an application allowing for citizens to signal issues with nearby containers.