DRC – A group of students from Kinshasa University in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has introduced high-tech garbage cans to aid in the management of solid waste in the capital city.
The “Odia” intelligent garbage can, will be used for selective sorting in Kinshasa, where household waste and other debris litter the streets.
The can is equipped with a motion detector and a voice command that tells the user which bin to dispose of their waste in, based on its nature.
The sorting system consists of two bins with a total volume of 0.75 m3. When the garbage can is 95% full, it emits a warning light and blocks the opening at 100% to prevent waste overflow, as explained by Omatuku Difumba Armand, one of the designers of the intelligent garbage can.
Odia is also equipped with a solar water system with storage batteries. “We also plan to equip the smart garbage can with a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) system,” adds Armand.
“This will enable the collector to receive remote alerts about the fill level. But we are encountering some difficulties in obtaining the equipment, as we have limited resources at our disposal.
“Financial support will enable us to produce a range of Odia garbage cans, which we will then distribute to every company, hospital, airport, and university in Kinshasa.”
In addition to reducing pollution in Kinshasa, a city that generates 7,000 tonnes of waste every day, the mass production of these intelligent garbage cans could enhance the efficiency of collectors in the field and promote recycling in the capital of DR-Congo. The city is increasingly forming partnerships with companies that invest in the circular economy.
With the launch of its smart garbage can, Kinshasa joins the exclusive group of African cities that are utilizing technology for solid waste management.
Kinshasa follows in the footsteps of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, which launched smart garbage cans equipped with sensors to monitor fill levels in real time in November 2021.
Since then, these devices have significantly improved the city’s sanitation, making the East African country a benchmark for sustainable waste management in Africa.
