PWX 2019

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Yes, We Can! Public Trash Bins Go High Tech to Help Keep Sidewalks Clean (Room 620)

Faced with a mounting number of service requests for overflowing trash cans on neighborhood street corners, San Francisco experimented with smart technology to tackle the problem. Partnering with the high-tech firm Nordense, San Francisco Public Works outfitted 48 trash bins with sensors not much bigger than a deck of cards. The sensors send alerts over Wi-Fi when the receptacles hit 70 percent capacity, signaling the cans need to be emptied. Recology, the city-contracted trash hauler, then dispatches crews to empty the cans before they overflow. As an added bonus, the sensors send an alert when a can is knocked over or the door is broken so crews can respond quickly, ensuring people have appropriate places to dispose of litter. In this session, attendees will learn creative ways to use technology to improve public services.