Northern Trains have an ambitious target to recycle 70% of the waste produced across their sites. Measuring those rates accurately — and making quantifiable improvements quickly — is essential. The solution also allows the team to adjust recycling schemes in response to seasonal trends, preventing bin overflow and the resulting environmental pollution.
Developed specifically for this application, clever algorithms convert fill-level data into an estimated weight to deliver real-time, accurate recycling data. Sensors can be installed anywhere in the UK and automatically relay data to a secure online portal via IoT cellular networks — no Wi-Fi, no on-site IT infrastructure required.
With sensors in the Biffa bins continually monitoring fill levels, the impact of various recycling initiatives can be measured quickly and easily. The smart bin sensors also monitor lid position and bin temperature — a valuable addition for security at remote locations and for detecting potential fire risk events.
Committed to improving recycling rates across their service, Northern Trains — alongside waste management partner Biffa — deployed IoTSG smart bin sensors at stations across the North East. These intelligent sensors give Northern Trains real-time recycling volumes from individual bins, helping them monitor performance and make targeted improvements.
Northern Trains’ 70% recycling target required granular, reliable data that manual inspection alone couldn’t deliver. With sensors continuously monitoring fill levels, collection routes can be optimised dynamically: bins that are filling faster can be emptied sooner, preventing overflow and the environmental pollution that follows. Those that are consistently underused can be reprioritised or moved.
The real-time visibility also means the team can measure the direct impact of new recycling initiatives — adjusting schemes across the network in response to seasonal trends and station-by-station behaviour rather than waiting for end-of-quarter reports.
