LG Uplus to Launch IoT-Powered Waste Collection System in Goyang

The new project will see IoT sensors installed on the inside of the lid of trash cans on city’s main streets and in densely populated residential areas, devices that can keep a record of the amount of trash held in each trash can. (Image: LG Uplus)

SEOUL, May 18 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean telecom provider LG Uplus is launching a NarrowBand IoT-based smart waste collection system next month in Gyeonggi Province’s Goyang City, the company announced yesterday.

The new project will see IoT sensors installed on the inside of the lid of trash cans on city’s main streets and in densely populated residential areas, devices that can keep a record of the amount of trash held in each trash can.

The data collected through the IoT sensors will first be sent to a control center located in Goyang through the network’s dedicated line for NB-IoT services. Then, from there, street sweepers will receive information on their smartphones.

“This way, situations where litter spills out onto the street from packed trash cans can be prevented, while street sweepers can collect waste more effectively with the information gathered through the IoT sensors,” the telecom company said.

Since its trial run of LTE-based smart trash cans last year, Goyang City saw garbage collectors make one fewer trip per day on average.

Working side by side, LG Uplus and the local government of Goyang City plan to install tracking devices in waste collection vehicles to provide their whereabouts in real time and gather information to make their waste collection system more time-efficient.

“Apart from the smart waste collection system, we plan to introduce other smart metering systems later this year, adopting the IoT technology in water, gas and electricity meters,” Kim Yeong-man, a LG Uplus official responsible for NB-IoT, said.

Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)