Sensors in waste containers will help Prague become a cleaner city

The capital will use modern technology to monitor the levels of waste, optimise collection, and reduce expenses

In 2019, the Czech capital received an award at the Smart Cities for the Future national competition for its “Smart Waste Collection” pilot project. At the time, the City of Prague installed 420 sensors in waste containers (primarily underground bins) to monitor their levels and optimise their collection. Following the success of this pilot, the city has decided to expand the project and install sensors in 6,000 containers for sorted waste.

Reducing waste, air pollution, and expenses

The installation of sensors will help optimise the collection of waste as garbage trucks will no longer drive through the city’s streets when containers are not full. Subsequently, the smog and air pollution in Prague will decrease significantly. What is more, the expenses associated with the collection of waste will also be reduced. Commenting on this point, the Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib explained:

“From a financial point of view, it is therefore an investment, the purpose of which is to reduce the operating costs of the city. Annual savings, after deducting operation and investment costs, are immediately invested in the development of the existing collection network. The greatest potential for possible savings is expected especially in the collection of containers for glass, beverage cartons, and metal packaging.”

Meeting climate goals

The development of this smart waste collection project can be seen as an important step towards the realisation of the capital’s climate goals. Discussing this, the Deputy Mayor for the Environment Petr Hlubuček, highlighted that Prague has set itself the ambitious goal of reducing CO2 emission by 45% by 2030. Aside from this, it also sets out to become completely carbon-neutral by 2050.

It is crucial to note that the capital published its strategy for the transition to a circular economy earlier this week. Among the many goals listed in the Circular Prague 2030 strategy is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and waste production. Both of these goals will be achieved with the city’s new smart collection of waste project.