The use of RFID technology in waste treatment billing

Abstract

This Master's degree work discusses possibilities of implementing new waste treatment billing system known as PAYT (Pay As You Throw), that enables charging based on actually collected quantity of waste. Thus the system of covering waste treatment costs is adapted to the principle »POLUTERS PAY« as close as possible.\ud We have analyzed the working process of Municipal Public Company, responsible for waste management in the area of 5 Communities in central part of Slovenia. The emphasis of analytic procedure has been put on Waste Treatment Cost Structure. \ud We have determined the costs that are inevitable for working process, but not influenced by the quantity of collected waste. The values of fixed and variable costs are a basis for Basic Charge and Service Charges (price depending on number of waste bin collections per month) for waste treatment.\ud Procedure for identification of collected bins is enabled by using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) data collection system. Identification is basic requirement for introducing collection measurement or weighing of collected waste in waste collection process.\ud RFID transponder is installed in waste collection bin. RFID reader installed on Refuse Collection Vehicle reads and transmits the transponder serial numbers. The tag data, combined with the time and GPS data (+ weight in weighing option) is recorded to the process unit in RCV. RFID data logs can be automatically downloaded from the process unit to designated servers in Municipal company. There the transponder ID is connected with user data and this is basis for PAYT billing