Superfy provides a data-driven solution helping Surf Coast Shire to improve efficiencies and and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Australia’s popular tourist destination
Victoria’s Surf Coast with its spectacular coastline, scenic rainforests and magnificent beaches, is one of the tourist draw cards of Australia. The Surf Coast Shire is among the fastest growing regional municipalities in Victoria. The main population centres include; Torquay; well known for its surf related industries, Bells Beach; home of the Rip Curl Pro, Winchelsea; gateway to the fertile Western District, leafy Anglesea, and the beautiful resort town of Lorne. Large numbers of holidaymakers and visitors stay in the Shire at peak season. The Great Ocean Road, which starts in Torquay, attracts over 2.5 million travellers annually.
The permanent population on the Surf Coast is 29,397 (2016 Census) which more than trebles at peak holiday times. With only 75 minutes between Torquay and the City of Melbourne via V/Line trains, many Surf Coast residents are also able to commute to work.
The Wild sulfur crested cockatoo problem
For a key tourist destination such as Lorne, the Great Ocean Road and the Surf Coast region, the eyesore of overflowing bins cannot be measured by financial impact alone. During the summer months, street litter bins in Lorne have needed to be serviced daily because of the amount of waste being disposed of. And it’s not only public that causes this mess, Wild sulphur-crested cockatoos have become a nuisance, particularly in coastal towns, where they are opening rubbish bins to forage for more food and spreading litter. This is often the result of the public and tourist “feeding the birds” which leads to them becoming lazy and demanding.
Wild sulphur crested cockatoos have become a nuisance, particularly in coastal towns.
“The volumes of waste generated during the peak visitor period and the distance that crews travel to Lorne to service bins have demanded a different approach to operating street litter bins in Lorne.”
Clive Goldsworthy
Surf Coast Shire Council
The Superfy smart waste solution
Surf Coast began trialling two smart Compactors with Superfy smart waste management systems and the success of these in improving collection efficiency, gaining deep waste data and reduced complaints from the public over the 12 month trial period. The Superfy smart waste management system and sensors along with the smart bins highlight the evolving landscape in waste management, smart cities and the ever increasing integration of smart waste technology in Australia.
The deployment at Surf Coast is currently the largest multi town deployment for a regional council in Victoria and with this deployment they have been able to link three regional towns with Superfy technology in order to provide deep insights to waste collection teams and council. In addition, the smart bins use sensors inside to monitor fill levels and when ready for collection, they send a notification to the waste management company.
A solution for daily collections and unwanted access
Superfy’s smart waste management systems has resulted in significant improvements as observed by the public, shop keepers and the council with respect to rubbish overflow and cockatoo deep dives! The solar compacting bins deployed can hold more than 5 times the waste of an ordinary 120L waste bin, resulting in less collections.
Surf Coast is the largest multi town deployment for a regional council in Victoria and has provided deep insights to the waste collection teams and council. With a minimum of 46.8 km round trip between these three towns, a vehicle travelling more than 150 times a year to empty bins causes environmental damage, pollution and damage to the communities roads. With greater bin capacity and the bin level sensor to alert the waste management company when the bins are full and ready for collection, there is a significant saving in the number of collections needed and resulting use of vehicles.
“We were collecting rubbish daily along the esplanade, however, we now expect to be able to reduce this to once or twice a week.”
Lachlan Close
Surf Coast Shire Coordinator of Waste Management
A successful deployment in smart waste management
The deployment of smart waste management systems highlight the evolving landscape in waste management, smart cities and the ever increasing integration of smart waste technology in Australia. The Surf Coast success highlights the ability of smart waste solutions to improve collection efficiency, gain deep waste data and reduce complaints from the public as well as reduce nuisance from the local wildlife.
