Northern Trains and Biffa trial innovation to increase recycling

Committed to improving recycling rates across their service, Northern Trains, alongside waste management partner Biffa, are deploying smart bin sensors at 70 stations across the North East.

These intelligent sensors give Northern Trains real-time recycling volumes from individual bins, helping them monitor and improve recycling rates.

Find out more about our Smart Bin Sensor

Sustainability Challenges

Northern Trains have an ambitious target to recycle 70% of the waste produced across their sites this year. Measuring these rates accurately and making quantifiable improvements quickly is therefore essential. This solution also allows the team to adjust recycling schemes in response to seasonal trends, preventing bin overflow and the resulting environmental pollution.

Innovative Monitoring

Developed specifically for this application, there is a lot of technology working in the background to support this solution. Clever algorithms are convert fill level data to an estimated weight to deliver real-time, accurate recycling data. These IoT Solutions Group sensors can be installed anywhere in the UK and automatically relay the data to a private online portal via secure IoT data networks.

Driving Results

With the sensors in the Biffa bins continually monitoring the fill levels, the impact of various initiatives to encourage more recycling can be quickly and easily measured. As well as continually monitoring the fill level of the bin, these smart bin sensors also monitor and record the lid position and bin temperature, a valuable addition for security at remote locations.

Biffa NT - Bin being emptied by BIffa truck

Biffa NT - Device being fitted by engineers

Biffa NT - Real-time data from bin sensor

Supporting sustainability goals

277

Sensors deployed in recycling bins across stations

72

Stations across the northeast to have sensors

70%

recycling target for Northern Trains this year

Improving sustainability through technology – Northern Trains and Biffa trial innovation to increase recycling

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