More tasks are executed with the same resources

Per Sørensen, the transport manager at Vesthimmer­lands Forsyning, is a pioneer in the use of digital fill level sensors in waste containers. Per Sørensen was involved from the start in 2016, when the utility ­company began Denmark’s largest installation in the field, and when he discusses with colleagues whether it pays off, there are no doubts.

"It certainly can! We have continually freed up time to handle even more containers with the same resources," states the head of transportation.

As with all pioneers, there have also been challenges. The first generation of sensors from a Swiss supplier was a fine enough solution, but difficult to adapt to the wishes and needs of Vesthimmerlands Forsyning, which had installed them in 370 waste containers.

Responsible for water, sewage and waste throughout Vesthimmerland Municipality, the company reached out to the market and initiated a collaboration with the Sønderborg-based company Maacks. This led to the installation of 450 sensors from Maacks in 2019. At that time, they were based on ultrasonic technology.

Vesthimmerlands Forsyning is constantly optimising the solution, and now the number of sensors is up to covering 700 containers. The latest generation of BrainyBins sensors is based on precise radar techno­logy, mounted at the top of the waste container and sending continuous data on fill level, temperature, etc. via the cloud.

"The fill level technology is now a mature technology in operation, especially with the latest generation of sensors using radar technology," says Torben Østerby, Sales Manager at Maacks ApS.

Hands-on data for the transport manager
Between 6:30 and 7:00 pm, fresh data arrives for opera­tions manager Per Sørensen from the 700 fill level sensors, and based on this, he spends 5-10 minu­tes each evening planning the next day’s operations. He likes to be updated, proactive, and have his “hands on the stove,” as he puts it.

The operations manager was curious about how the process would unfold, but according to Per Sørensen, the installation, activation and con­nection to BrainyBins software via the cloud takes only about 15 minu­tes per fill level sensor. Additionally, he spent a total of 15 minutes introducing and instructing the driver in the use of the BrainyBins app.

"Maacks is responsive to our software requests," says Per Sørensen, providing an example: "We wanted the driver to manually enter his assessment of the fill level so that we could compare it with the BrainyBins report, and we have received that functionality."

It has been proven that there is a very good alignment between the driver’s assessment and the data from the fill level sensor. During the visit, the operations manager shows a current example, where the driver estimates the fill level to be 70 per cent, while the fill level sensor indicates 73 per cent.

"Radar technology provides very precise reports on the fill level and is not disturbed by dirty lenses or similar issues," says Torben Østerby from Maacks about the solution for which a patent has been applied.

According to Per Sørensen, it is important to get involved early in the process and continuously provide feedback to the supplier about one’s needs in order to tailor the solution to the organisation’s needs. If that’s the case, there is not much to think about.

"Installing fill level sensors in waste containers and digitising monitoring pays off. I can only recommend other utility companies consider the same, today the installation and operation are smooth, so in my opinion, there is no reason to hesitate," concludes Per Sørensen, head of transportation at Vesthimmerlands Forsyning.

The replacement with the latest generation of fill level sensors was completed by Vesthimmerlands Forsyning in late 2022. 450 of the sensors are replacements of existing units, while 250 sensors are installed in brand new containers in connection with the implementation of two new waste fractions and the splitting of two existing fractions.

This means that all of the municipality’s waste sites are equipped with digital fill level sensors of the BrainyBins Radar type from Maacks. At the same time, the number of waste sites has been expanded to include the municipality’s holiday home areas as a replacement for the traditional collection of daily waste.

The solution includes the BrainyBins software, specially developed for monitoring and administration within the waste sector, and an app developed for hauliers and drivers.

For Vesthimmerlands Forsyning, the radar-type fill level sensors have made it possible to introduce two new fractions and split two others without generating a need for extra transportation. The company still collects waste 3-4 days a week, just like before.

"Thanks to the 700 fill level sensors investment, we can handle the extra fractions without investing in another truck. Our truck drives 40-45,000 km a year, and the routes can be organised so efficiently that we can manage the extra fractions and the emptying of containers in all 90 waste islands," reports Per Sørensen, head of transportation.

In other words, the BrainyBins solution with software and fill level sensors has been a good investment environmentally and budget-wise, and, moreover, the citizens of the municipality now very rarely see an overflowing container in the community.

Denmark’s largest installation of smart sensors for waste management