StalkIT enables smart waste containers with IoT

The industrial waste collection sector faces various challenges, including lack of container overview, recurrent large investments in new containers, low turnover ratio, poor traceability of waste and inefficient logistics.

Moreover, the technologies available on the market today do not provide a good return on investment (ROI) for waste containers.

StalkIT has developed a tailor-made tracker for waste containers using Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology to provide complete online control of container inventory.

The StalkIT solution consists of three main deliverables: a robust, maintenance-free, easy-to-install physical unit that can handle rough environments and will last for the entire container lifetime; a cloud service with RESTful APIs and reference progressive web apps that are part of StalkIT’s Cloud Integration SDK; and a web portal and mobile app.

The solution has a battery life of up to 10 years and provides an ROI for containers of one to three years.

The StalkIT tracking device and software enables online monitoring and tracking of waste containers. This assists in tackling problems such as theft – the company estimates that 2 to 5 per cent of the container fleet is lost or disappears each year.

Such control also helps to increase the number of collections per year per container significantly, thus increasing the turnover ratio for each waste container by up to 50 per cent, according to the company.

Logistics can be automated with StalkIT, from inventory updates to order inputs and invoicing. The company estimates that operators could save up to EUR 10 per container annually.

The solution helps users to respond to requests for quotations, by providing an overview of the number of containers that will be available at any given time. Likewise, by confirming the location of a container at any given time, StalkIT improves the traceability of the waste, thus helping to prevent illegal dumping of hazardous substances.

The solution can also extend the lifetime of containers by enabling preventive maintenance through early identification of damage.

All these benefits support the circular economy by reducing emissions and improving efficiency in the non-digital sector of waste management.

Industrial waste handling is a large and growing sector worldwide, so the market potential for StalkIT’s solution application is considerable.

StalkIT is currently focusing on the European market, but is looking to expand to Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the US soon.

Recently, StalkIT signed Norway’s largest NB-IoT contract with Telia Norway.