Miami partners with Compology

The city of Miami has announced a new partnership with Compology, a sustainable waste metering company based in San Francisco, to help better manage its waste. The initiative will equip the city with cameras to take photos of the inside of dumpsters to measure how much and what types of waste are present. 

According to a news release from Compology, the effort will modernize Miami’s recycling infrastructure while reducing waste collection costs by a projected 30 to 40 percent. The cameras will be installed in city dumpsters at municipal buildings, police and fire stations and parks. 

“Compology’s technology reduces the number of miles garbage trucks need to drive and helps improve the amount of material that can be recycled, keeping it out of landfills,” says Ken Russel, the commissioner of Miami. “By modernizing our waste collection processes, we can reduce the city’s environmental footprint while also saving taxpayers’ dollars. It's a win-win.”

According to a news release from Compology, the company says it has helped increase recycling rates, lower carbon emissions and reduce operating costs for various companies internationally. Compology says its smart cameras use artificial intelligence that identifies contamination in recycling streams before collection to deliver tailored recycling education and data that enables proper recycling practices and more waste diversion from landfills to improve recycling rates.

The city says it will reduce CO2 emissions, traffic congestion, noise pollution and illegal dumping by adding Compology's waste metering technology. It will also improve code compliance and enhance urban beautification efforts.

According to Compology, data from this initial deployment will be the foundation for designing a waste metering program for all municipal buildings and private businesses in Miami.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez previously announced the city’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent citywide and for Miami to become carbon neutral by 2050. “I am proud to work with Commissioner Russell and partners like Compology and Waste Management Inc. in implementing commonsense sustainability measures that will help us reach our ambitious goal to be one of the most climate-friendly cities in the world,” Suarez says