Solar energy-powered sensor attached to trash can lid
Real-time measurement of trash can loading and transmission to sanitation workers

Now, you can even report the amount of trash in your trash can. By attaching IoT sensors to your trash cans, you can receive real-time information about the amount of trash in your bin.

LG U+ will begin building a smart collection management system based on NB-IoT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, starting in June.

Last year, LG U+ signed a business agreement with Goyang City to implement a smart city and foster an IoT industry ecosystem. The company launched pilot smart city services, including a smart city environment and safe parking. This year, the company plans to develop additional IoT services with new themes.

Early last year, Seodaemun-gu installed 76 IoT sensors in trash cans in major commercial districts, including Yeonhui-ro and Sinchon Rotary. While existing IoT trash cans used Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, "smart waste collection management" will be provided via LG U+'s dedicated NB-IoT network.

Trash cans installed along city streets and in public trash cans in densely populated residential areas will be equipped with IoT sensors to monitor their load levels in real time. Specifically, the system consists of: load detection sensors, solar-powered compression trash cans, waste collection vehicle trackers, and an integrated landfill collection data system.



IoT trash cans equipped with a load detection sensor have a sensor attached to the inside of the cover that measures the load inside the trash can in real time, and compression trash cans automatically compress trash when it accumulates to prevent it from overflowing. The sensor is powered by solar energy.

Waste collection vehicles are equipped with trackers that display real-time vehicle location and collection routes. Data on the amount of waste each vehicle disposes of at landfills can also be quantified and systematically managed.

Data measured from the smart trash can is transmitted to the Goyang City Demonstration Center server and the smartphones of environmental beautification workers through the LG U+ NB-IoT dedicated network, allowing them to check trash loading information in real time.

LG Uplus NB-IoT manager Kim Young-man said, “In addition to the smart collection management system, we are preparing to build various new smart metering services in the second half of the year, including water, gas, and electricity,” and “We will continue to introduce new concept services that make daily life more convenient in line with the construction of the nationwide NB-IoT network this year.”