Distributed monitoring system and waste management system and method

Abstract

A monitoring system comprises a plurality of monitoring stations disposed in or associated with a respective rubbish bin housing or surround. Each monitoring station comprising an identifier, a sensor for monitoring the bin or a detectable quality of the environment in which the bin is located, a processor for receiving a signal from the sensor and a transmitter for transmitting the signal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a distributed monitoring system based around rubbish bins and management of the collection of rubbish from rubbish bins.BACKGROUND[0002]In areas of higher density population, such as residential / office, retail and entertainment precincts, municipal organisations, such as local governments provide public rubbish bins for disposal of rubbish. Rubbish bins are also known as litter bins, trash cans and garbage cans. Traditionally these bins are fixed in location and emptied on a regular basis which depends on the extent of use of the bins in an overall sense. Typically this is weekly or daily. However each bin in an area will be used in differing amounts depending on the location of the bin within the collection area, special events and other factors. Aside from one-off collections during or after a special event at a specific location, the timing of collection from the bins, generally, does not vary. As a result the frequency...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a detector for a bin that can sense the level of rubbish in the bin and the pollution level in the local environment surrounding the bin. The detector includes a first sensor that can sense the level of rubbish and create a signal representing the level of rubbish. A second sensor can sense the pollution level in the local environment and create a signal representing the pollution level. A processor receives the first and second signals and determines the level of rubbish and the pollution level based on the signals. The detector can also include a transmitter to periodically transmit the level signals. The invention allows for the efficient and effective management of rubbish in bins and the monitoring of environmental factors.

Problems solved by technology

This can result in bins that are not full being emptied unnecessarily and bins overfilling.

In turn this results in poor use of the bins, the creation of litter and inefficient management of waste collection from the bins.

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