Digital tools can transform waste management, cut costs – World Bank Report
Municipal authorities and waste management companies can significantly improve service delivery, reduce operating costs and strengthen recycling systems through the adoption of digital technologies, according to a new report by the World Bank Group.
The report, titled Waste, Reimagined: Practical Guidance for Digitalizing Waste Management, highlights how digital solutions can help cities respond to growing waste challenges while improving environmental and financial outcomes.
According to the report, global municipal solid waste generation is projected to increase by 50 per cent, rising from 2.6 billion tonnes in 2022 to 3.9 billion tonnes by 2050.
It noted that waste volumes in lower-income countries are expected to more than double, and in some regions triple, placing additional pressure on already strained waste management systems.
The report estimated that the annual cost of inaction, including the health and environmental impacts of uncollected waste, open dumping and waste burning, stands at about 361 billion dollars globally.
It stressed that digitalisation was not merely about deploying technology but about using better data to make waste management systems more reliable, transparent and financially sustainable.
According to the report, digital tools can help optimise waste collection routes, reduce fuel consumption, improve billing and revenue collection, track service delivery in real time, and increase public participation in recycling programmes.
The technologies can also improve waste sorting, material recovery and quality control, while supporting circular economy objectives through enhanced transparency and traceability.
The report cited several case studies demonstrating the impact of digital innovations in waste management.
In Cambodia, the city of Battambang adopted digital billing systems, mobile payment platforms and GPS vehicle tracking, resulting in waste collection coverage increasing from about 40 per cent of households to between 75 and 80 per cent.
In the Republic of Korea, Seoul deployed RFID-based food waste charging systems and tested Internet of Things-enabled smart bins.
The initiative helped increase food waste recycling rates from about two per cent in the 1990s to approximately 98 per cent by 2023.
The smart-bin pilot programme also reduced collection frequency by 66 per cent and lowered collection costs by 83 per cent.
Similarly, in Tunisia, route analytics and telematics technologies introduced in Cité el Habib, Sfax, reduced fuel consumption by up to 57 per cent and cut waste collection times by between 29 and 48 per cent.
In Benin, the city of Cotonou used GPS tracking systems to improve route compliance and reduce missed waste collections.
The report noted that the initiative contributed to a nine per cent increase in annual waste collection volumes, from 430,000 tonnes to 470,000 tonnes, while reducing landfill trips by about 500.
Barcelona, Spain, was highlighted as an example of long-term digital investment in urban waste management.
According to the report, the city’s integrated digital platforms, RFID-enabled smart bins, pneumatic waste collection systems and performance-based contracts have improved service monitoring, contractor accountability and operational efficiency.
Solar-powered self-compacting waste bins in the city were also reported to have reduced emptying costs by eight times compared to conventional bins.
The report outlined four key areas for digital transformation in waste management.
These include citizen and business engagement through mobile applications, messaging tools, incentive schemes and feedback platforms; collection and logistics through GPS tracking, route optimisation and smart bins; treatment and facility management using sensors, artificial intelligence sorting systems and predictive maintenance; and digital platforms for billing, traceability and secondary-material trading.
The report concluded that digital waste management solutions can provide high-impact results at relatively low cost when integrated into broader sector reforms.
It added that successful digitalisation requires effective governance structures, strong data management systems, phased implementation strategies, staff capacity development and sustained engagement with citizens and businesses.
