Solar-Powered Waste Revolution: The 80% Cost Reduction Secret Unveiled

The problems of waste management

In urban cities and towns across the world, one of the biggest challenges to clean and hygienic public spaces is that of efficient waste management. While the entire lifecycle of the waste processes in Saudi Arabia and other countries is riddled with numerous problems, the biggest bottleneck often exists at the source or collection points – the places where the waste is generated. Most malls, shopping centres, and food courts see high daily footfall, which results in the generation of vast amounts of waste in the forms of discarded packaging, disposable food containers, and food waste itself.

Many of these public spaces are often not equipped to handle the collection of the sheer quantities of waste generated, due to various reasons. Let us see what they are:

1. Limited number of waste collection bins: Malls, restaurants, airports, etc. can only accommodate a limited number of waste bins. If the total installed capacity of waste collection bins in a particular areas is 100 litres, but the waste generated is 600 litres per day, the bins need to be emptied six times a day.
2. Lack of availability of personnel to manage the waste: Due to factors like limited funds and poor scheduling, not enough personnel is available to collect the trash on a regular basis.
3. Logistical issues: Waste management service providers often do not collect the waste on a regular basis as they may have a limited number of vehicles and a wide area to cover.

These drawbacks lead to overflowing bins, and unpleasant and pest infested surroundings, which can not only create poor shopping experiences but also result in various health and environmental hazards. 

Disadvantages of traditional waste compactor for waste management

Traditional methods of compacting waste collection have addressed the overflow problem to an extent but suffer from several drawbacks. Firstly, they need external electrical power to operate, leading to high power consumption, which chalk up high running costs and are unsustainable in the long run. This also prevents them from being deployed in locations where there are no power outlets available. Further, they are often unsightly, take up a lot of floor space and require frequent maintenance. Finally, collection of waste is still a problem as it is difficult to assess the quantity of waste collected and compacted without physical inspection, which can be a time-consuming and cumbersome exercise.  

Solution for the future – solar powered trash compactors

In such a scenario, the innovation of the solar-powered trash compactor bin has emerged as an ideal solution to the problems of waste management, especially at collection points. These compactors are ergonomically and aesthetically designed waste collection devices that run completely on solar power. They are much more efficient than any traditional form of waste collection equipment, having the capacity to collect a whopping 80% more waste! This has a direct effect on the number of times that they need to be emptied. These modern marvels are also equipped with smart indicators that can provide real-time information on capacity filled, making it easier to schedule collections.

How they work – the secret behind 8x cost savings!

Solar-powered trash compactors are fitted with solar panels, which absorb the sun’s rays and convert them to electrical energy. Excess electricity is stored in an on-board battery. A full charge allows the solar powered garbage compactor to work for several weeks, ensuring low consumption of electricity. The bin has a foot pedal operated opening for hands-free usage with direct waste flow into the bin. Depending on the usage, the capacity of the solar-powered bins range between 120 litres and 360 litres. A compactor sensor indicates when the bin is full and activates the powerful compactor mechanism to crush the waste into a smaller volume to free up space for additional waste. An LED indicator displays the capacity and the wi-fi enabled compactor bin transmits information to the waste management service providers in real-time, which enables them to make data-driven decisions on waste collection.

Main advantages of solar-powered trash compactor bins

The advantages of solar-powered bins include:

1. The bins are operated with clean, renewable solar energy, which reduces the load on grid electricity. Moreover, this also makes them wire-free, which allows them to be installed in diverse location like parks, beaches, and open-air shopping centres.
2. Larger volumes of waste collected per solar powered garbage compactor bin leads to tremendous savings in costs incurred for waste management, including electricity, personnel, and maintenance. This puts less pressure on the limited budgets of municipal corporations.
3. Self-contained, sealed units with touch-free operation, which reduces exposure to the sight and odour of the waste, and prevents flies and pests from accessing the waste, leading to safer and more aesthetic surroundings.
4. Compacting waste collection leads to reduction in carbon footprint and impacts the environment positively by putting less pressure on landfills and promoting efficient recycling of non-biodegradable and hazardous waste.
5. Creates more awareness among the public towards waste disposal and promotes responsible behaviour by encouraging them to make more use of waste bin.
6. The smart waste management technology generates real-time data, allowing waste management service providers to map garbage collection routes and times more efficiently and deploy waste collection personnel and transport vehicles during times of low footfall or traffic.

Conclusion

According to the World Bank, by 2050, the annual global generation of solid waste is set to skyrocket to 3.88 billion tonnes – a growth of 73% over 2020 levels, which was estimated to be around 2.24 billion tonnes. Waste management service providers across the world need to be more proactive to make waste management more efficient and cost-effective. Innovations in waste disposal and collection equipment such as the solar-powered waste bin compactor in Saudi Arabia by companies like SAB TECH are a promising step in the right direction.

About SAB TECH

SAB TECH is a leading technology company headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company is a leading manufacturer and innovator of hydraulic powered equipment including car lifts, industrial doors, baling presses and compactors, road blockers and bollards, cargo lifts, and more. As a top manufacturer and supplier of the solar-powered waste bin compactor in Saudi Arabia, SAB TECH is taking the lead in enabling efficient, responsible and cost-effective waste management systems across the world.

Find out more about our sustainable products and equipment by visiting sabtech.com.sa and avail of our unparalleled expertise and top-notch services.