The WSmart Route project explores a new paradigm based on smart waste management, where real-time information plays a central role in changing the way operations are managed today. Recent advances in ICT make it possible to access information in real time through the use of sensors located inside the containers. However, access to the information collected by these sensors is not sufficient to increase efficiency in the waste collection operation by itself, making it essential to optimize the collection routes according to that information.

The present project refers to the development of an integrated system to process waste streams targeting the maximum glass cullet recovery centred in Mobile Processing Units (MPU). The solution proposed in the project relies in the project of an innovative Mobile Processing Unit (MPU), incorporating a whole flowsheet able to process streams containing packaging glass, such as the heavy reject of MBT plants and the bottom ash of the incinerators fed with undifferentiated urban waste, that produces a glass product with added value.

The WSmart Route+ project studies a new paradigm on smart waste management. Data analytics combined with route optimization will be explored to improve waste collection operation supporting the adoption of a smart waste collection based on dynamic routes as opposed to the traditional blind collection that is based on static routes. Everyday thousands of kilometres are travelled to collect tonnes of waste with high uncertainty on the amount of waste in each bin, a fact that can lead to inefficient collection operations where resources are used to collect often a small amount of waste.