Verification experiments on CO2 reduction planning from the estimated waste collection amount at waste stations using waste collection vehicle route log data.

In Japan, the municipal waste management sector, which accounts for approximately 3 % of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, faces several challenges, including the need to decarbonize waste collection and shrinking labor force. In recent years, technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence have been investigated to improve the efficiency and decarbonization of waste management. This study installed IoT devices (known as a digital tachographs) in waste collection vehicles and containers in Matsuyama City to record their route log data. Thereafter, the amount of waste collected at each waste station was estimated using the collected route log data, camera images captured from the rear of the vehicles and waste collection and transportation records on operational days. Based on the obtained estimation results, plans to reduce the CO2 emissions from waste collection and transportation were prepared. The results showed that CO2 emissions can be reduced by approximately 8 % through the improvement of individual vehicle travel routes and by approximately 20 % through the integration of the travel routes of multiple vehicles.