Author Archives: Salman Zafar

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the CEO of BioEnergy Consult, and an international consultant, advisor and trainer with expertise in waste management, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, environment protection and resource conservation. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biogas technology, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Salman has participated in numerous national and international conferences all over the world. He is a prolific environmental journalist, and has authored more than 300 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. In addition, he is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability through his blogs and portals. Salman can be reached at salman@bioenergyconsult.com or salman@cleantechloops.com.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Injury When Cycling

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Cycling is an enjoyable and inexpensive means of transport, but it can also be dangerous, as it involves riding on the road alongside fast-moving cars. According to the NHTSA, over 1,260 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2020 alone, accounting for more than 3 percent of total traffic fatalities in the U.S.

Therefore, when cycling, you must make personal efforts to ensure you and everyone else stays safe on the road. This article will explore ways cyclists can reduce the risk of injury on the road.

Reduce Risk of Injury When Cycling

You Need an Experienced Bicycle Accident Attorney if a Driver Hits You

Cyclists and motorists can be at fault when bicycle accidents happen. But when you get involved in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may qualify for financial compensation.

However, to pursue maximum compensation after a bicycle accident, you need to hire an experienced bicycle injury lawyer. A qualified bicycle injury lawyer will not only help you handle settlement negotiations but will also represent you in court if your case goes to trial.

Five Ways Cyclists Can Reduce the Risk of Injury When Cycling

1. Obey Traffic Rules

Following traffic rules is the simplest way to reduce your risk of injury. Therefore, you should always cycle with the traffic flow, stop at red lights, and use appropriate hand signals when turning.

Some areas may require you to use freeways, while others, such as urban centers, may require you to use a bicycle lane or bike path. So, before you hit the road, familiarize yourself with local regulations that apply to cyclists.

2. Enhance Your Visibility on a Bike

Unlike vehicles, bicycles are small and can be difficult for motorists to spot, especially at night or in a misty atmosphere. Luckily, you can take some helpful steps to improve your visibility on the road.

Wearing brightly colored or reflective clothing is an excellent place to start. You can also get specialized lights on your bike to make it easy for motorists to see you at night.

3. Choose the Right Bike

The size and shape of a bicycle can make a big difference. Choosing the right bike for your height, shape, and style can make your ride safer, more comfortable, and more fun.

Ideally, when choosing a bike, you should ensure there is enough space between the top tube and seat to avoid bending over too much while riding. You should also be able to place both feet flat on the ground when sitting in a normal position on your bike.

Lastly, ensure your bike tires are suitable for the road you’ll be taking. While narrow road bikes are appropriate for smooth roads, wide mountain bikes ride well on rough terrains.

how cyclists can reduce injury risk

4. Wear a Good-Fitting Helmet

While helmets cannot prevent accidents, they can significantly lower the risk of head injuries in the event of a crash by absorbing much of the impact. But all helmets are not made equal, so you will want to pick a DOT-approved option.

More importantly, ensure the helmet you pick fits you properly. Strap it tightly enough on both sides so it won’t move in a crash but loose enough that you don’t feel too much pressure.

5. Check Your Bike Before You Ride

Whether you are cycling for fun or as an expert rider, you should always inspect your bike before hitting the road. Tires are an essential element of your bike, so check to ensure they have the proper pressure and adjust it to the right level, depending on the road you’ll be riding on.

You should also test your brakes to confirm if they are working correctly. The best way to do this is by spinning your bike’s wheels while you apply the front and rear brakes.

Lastly, lube the chain and other moving parts of your bike to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Therapy

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Around 13 percent of the world population is afflicted by mental health issues, and psychotherapy has emerged as a saviour for many people.  Psychotherapy can treat a wide range of mental illnesses, such as, depression, personality disorders, drug addiction, personal loss, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Psychotherapy can be one-on-one or can be a group session. Some forms of psychotherapy last only a few sessions, while others may continue for weeks.

However, the coronavirus outbreak has made it difficult for people to find a therapist, due to travel restrictions and frequent lockdowns at many places.  In these trying times, virtual therapy has been a blessing in disguise for mental health patients, and has proven to be as effective as a face-to-face therapy session. Due to the stigma attached to mental health, online therapy is extremely useful for people with mental disorders.

virtual-psychotherapy

In virtual psychotherapy, the therapist remotely addresses the patient’s symptoms remotely through a video chat or phone call. The remote interaction can take place on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC, whereby the therapist will ask relevant questions related to your mental health, and advise on how to overcome them using psychotherapy techniques and medication.

Benefits of Virtual Therapy

Let us examine how virtual therapy is a boon for mental health patients:

1. A friendly home environment

Virtual therapy encourages mental health patients to self-manage their symptoms in the comfortable and friendly home environment, thus fostering self-independence. You can monitor your progress and gain self-confidence by following a personalized therapeutic plan for mental wellbeing. Online therapy sessions are a huge benefit for disabled people as it reduces the stress associated with regular trips to the therapy clinic.

2. Personalized interaction with the therapist

The online communication with your psychotherapist to address your symptoms and answer your mental health-related queries is a major advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual therapy can also offset unpredictable situations, like bad weather and commuting issues, and may come handy for those folks who are too busy and want to get therapy on their own terms.

3. More privacy

Many people prefer a more private setting when going for mental health treatment, primarily due to the social stigma attached with mental illnesses. A virtual physiotherapist will not only ensure your privacy but also provide quality therapeutic treatment without the need for you to step out of your cozy home or waiting for hours in a therapist’s waiting room. Virtual psychotherapy sessions are conducted through a secure and encrypted connection.

4. Timely care

Online therapy has made it possible for people with mental disorders to seek an appointment with the therapist and get timely care when they it the most. You do not have to worry about the travel time, location, traffic situation or mobility problems. The therapist will assess your mental health symptoms, observe your issues and diagnose your problems promptly, thus ensuring timeliness of care.

online-therapy

5. Overall health improvement

Online therapy helps you to connect with a qualified professional who is genuinely concerned about your mental wellbeing. The restrictions imposed by the pandemic has made it difficult for many people to interact with others, and the online face-to-face communication with a trained therapist will be helpful in reducing the stress levels.

Bottom Line

Online therapy is an effective and proven alternative to traditional therapy sessions. A virtual therapist provides practical and personalized treatment to mental health patients using a stable Internet connection and a smartphone or tablet, and ensures timeliness of care and patient satisfaction, similar to that a traditional therapist provides. To sum up, virtual therapists can help mental health patents to live a healthier and joyful life.

Ways to Lower Your Carbon Footprint in Life and Death

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As global warming threatens our planet, an increasing number of people are becoming conscious of how daily life creates a significant impact upon the environment. But have many people considered how their death can affect the environment? Death is the only certainty in life, and it is time that humans think about how they can protect the planet for future generations after they die and when they are alive. Here are some ways to lower your carbon footprint in life and death.

green-burial

Life

There are many ways to lower your carbon footprint in daily life. One of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is carbon dioxide from motor vehicles. We can remedy this by walking, cycling or taking public transport instead of driving. If a car is necessary, consider buying an electric car or drive more efficiently by taking your foot off the gas and maintaining your car.

You can reduce your footprint around the house by turning down your heating and water temperature, replacing traditional light bulbs with LED ones, and turning off appliances and gadgets when they aren’t in use. Opt for Eco Mode on devices that allow it and buy energy-efficient kitchen appliances.

energy-monitor-for-home

Insulating your home is essential. Choose high-quality insulation for roof and walls, install energy-efficient windows and doors, and ensure that all gaps are completely sealed. Learn about carbon emissions in order to make a meaningful contribution in the global fight against climate change.

Recycling paper, plastic, and aluminum where possible will ensure you are doing your part in reducing the amount of landfill produced in the world.

Death

You can remain environmentally friendly even when you have shuffled off this mortal coil by having a green funeral.

Some conventional cemeteries and crematoriums have designated green areas within their grounds. The first green cemetery opened in the USA in 1998, and now close to 100 exist in the country. Some environmentally friendly burial grounds consist of vast expanses of land, giving homes to many species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and animals. The land becomes hallowed ground and cannot be touched for eternity. It truly is a place of eternal, peaceful rest. Instead of a traditional stone or concrete headstone marking the grave, a tree can be planted as a beautiful, green alternative.

To reduce your carbon footprint in death, every aspect of a funeral should be considered. The memorial ceremony should be at a place close to the deceased’s home so that travel emissions are kept to a minimum. The body should be contained in a coffin made from wicker, cardboard, sustainably harvested wood, or wrapped in a cotton shroud. Steel caskets, brass and gold handles, and adornments should be eliminated in favor of 100% biodegradable materials.

Chemicals used to embalm bodies so as to preserve them for mourners to view them prior to burial or cremation can be harmful to flora and fauna as they may leech into the ground. Alternative preservation techniques are now being considered, such as embalming the deceased’s body with dry ice. Any human-made materials should be kept to a minimum.

Biomass Energy in Thailand

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Thailand’s annual energy consumption has risen sharply during the past decade and will continue its upward trend in the years to come. While energy demand has risen sharply, domestic sources of supply are limited, thus forcing a significant reliance on imports.

Thailand_paddy

To face this increasing demand, Thailand needs to produce more energy from its own renewable resources, particularly biomass wastes derived from agro-industry, such as bagasse, rice husk, wood chips, livestock and municipal wastes.

In 2005, total installed power capacity in Thailand was 26,430 MW. Renewable energy accounted for about 2 percent of the total installed capacity. In 2007, Thailand had about 777 MW of electricity from renewable energy that was sold to the grid.

Biomass Potential in Thailand

Several studies have projected that biomass wastes can cover up to 15 % of the energy demand in Thailand. These estimations are primarily made from biomass waste from the extraction part of agricultural activities, and for large scale agricultural processing of crops etc. – as for instance saw and palm oil mills – and do not include biomass wastes from SMEs in Thailand. Thus, the energy potential of biomass waste can be much larger if these resources are included. The major biomass resources in Thailand include the following:

  • Woody biomass residues from forest plantations
  • Agricultural residues (rice husk, bagasse, corn cobs, etc.)
  • Wood residues from wood and furniture industries    (bark, sawdust, etc.)
  • Biomass for ethanol production (cassava, sugar cane, etc.)
  • Biomass for biodiesel production (palm oil, jatropha oil, etc.)
  • Industrial wastewater from agro-industry
  • Livestock manure
  • Municipal solid wastes and sewage

Thailand’s vast biomass potential has been partially exploited through the use of traditional as well as more advanced conversion technologies for biogas, power generation, and biofuels. Rice, sugar, palm oil, and wood-related industries are the major potential biomass energy sources in Thailand. The country has a fairly large biomass resource base of about 60 million tons generated each year that could be utilized for energy purposes, such as rice, sugarcane, rubber sheets, palm oil and cassava.

Biomass has been a primary source of energy for many years, used for domestic heating and industrial cogeneration. For example, paddy husks are burned to produce steam for turbine operation in rice mills; bagasse and palm residues are used to produce steam and electricity for on-site manufacturing process; and rubber wood chips are burned to produce hot air for rubber wood seasoning.

In addition to biomass residues, wastewater containing organic matters from livestock farms and industries has increasingly been used as a potential source of biomass energy. Thailand’s primary biogas sources are pig farms and residues from food processing. The production potential of biogas from industrial wastewater from palm oil industries, tapioca starch industries, food processing industries, and slaughter industries is also significant. The energy-recovery and environmental benefits that the KWTE waste to energy project has already delivered is attracting keen interest from a wide range of food processing industries around the world.

Why Procurement is the Hottest New Realm for Tech Investors?

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More than ever before, investing in sublime software-company-based valuations is paramount, especially for businesses that have different distribution cycles and those that have also intensified their asset ownership.

The same applies to tech investors who for the past few years have been overreaching in finding the optimal solutions for not only analysis but in transforming operations in the most sensitive areas of their work.

With that in mind, is procurement the next big thing for tech investors? Is procurement the hottest new realm for investors to eye? Let’s take a gander at a few reasons why it indeed is.

Why Procurement Tech Is So Popular

Understanding Procurement

Before you jump on the bandwagon, you must understand what the term procurement means. In layman’s terms, procurement involves the processes included in preparation, processing incoming demands, and the end processes of approving payments.

You can also define it as the process or steps taken when obtaining goods, services, equipment, and everything in between. And in the modern world, what used to be a rather lengthy and sometimes complicated process has been eased by, if you guessed right, procurement technology!

Why Procurement Tech Is So Popular Right Now

From data analytics to cloud-based software, process automation, and self-service portals, a diverse range of technology tools are currently being used to make procurement processes and cycles flawless. Below are some compelling reasons why tech investors should consider giving the procurement industry a try.

1. Analysis and Budgeting

If you are heading a tech department, you must analyze your company’s needs. This allows you to strategically define the key areas that might need more funding in terms of acquiring services/materials as the key components in helping you realize the company’s bottom line.

With this perhaps being one of the key areas considered by procurers and intermediaries, a lot of companies are relying on analytical software to help gather data and make their budgets.

2. Strategic Sourcing

After you’ve clearly defined your goals, you’ll need to identify suppliers who at a considerable cost will provide you with high-quality products. Price and product comparison are crucial elements that shouldn’t be ignored. Many companies rely on various tech tools for this.

3. SRM – Supplier Relationship Management

This is an important stage in procurement as it helps prevent issues to do with delays and quality drops. This stage allows you to closely monitor products and services, communicate with both suppliers and clients, and in evaluating your innovative projects. Various tools exist as well to help individuals and companies in this stage of procurement.

How Trends Impact Procurement

As industries keep evolving, so are the technologies and processes involved. The area for procurement today revolves around data. The systems and methodologies used in yesteryears cannot be termed to be as effective. There were flaws, delays, and not to mention lack of clear-cut strategies.

Thankfully, a great deal of technological advancements has been seen in the procurement industry over the past couple of years. Today, there are tons of tools designed to streamline your procurement processes so you can refocus on other areas of business that scale your revenues and profit.

How Trends Impact Procurement

Data Visibility

The modern systems and tools used in procurement have helped procurement departments in diversified industries to have ease of access to information, bring order to data management, and in extraction and analysis of data.

Risk Management

This is an important aspect in just about any business. In procurement, however, this has been by evaluating the risks involved in data and information exposure. Over the past few years, the cumulative risks involved have been greatly reduced and the rewards exponentially increased.

Sustainability

In a world where almost every process in business seems to be centered on sustainability, you can expect nothing less in procurement processes. There’s more focus on the implications procurement has on social and environmental levels.

Now, even as businesses continue to outsource their procurement activities, one thing remains constant. Most companies want to keep costs down while focusing on strategic growth, and procurement tech tools allow them to do just that.

With the above pointers in mind, it is easy to see why procurement is among the hottest realms right now for those interested in tech investments.

The Benefits of Plant-Based Oils

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Plant-based oils are often called vegetable oils because they are mostly derived directly from the seeds of vegetables. However, some plant-based oils are extracted from fruits, grains, and nuts.

Once the triglycerides have been extracted from the vegetable seeds, they are purified. Some oils are chemically altered before arriving at the grocery store, ready for you to buy in a bottle.

Benefits of Plant-Based Oils

There is a wide range of plant-based oils, and they are all comprised of a mixture of triglycerides. Popular oils include:

  • Avocado
  • Coconut
  • Flax
  • Hemp
  • Olive
  • Peanut
  • Soybean
  • Sunflower
  • Walnut

You can also get other derivatives of the seeds of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. For example, soybeans can also produce soybean meal, as sold by US Soy.

What Are the Benefits of Plant-Based Oils?

Plant-based oils have a wide range of health benefits. Nutritionally, they’re all different. Some contain more unsaturated fats than others, and each one is abundant in a unique range of micronutrients.

Here are some of the benefits of plant-based oils.

1. Improved Heart Health

The omega-3 fatty acids in plant-based oils have been shown to lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in the blood. These unsaturated fatty acids can also help to lower blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease.

Many people take a supplement to increase their intake of omega-3s but if you’d rather get your unsaturated fatty acids from natural sources, vegetable oils are the perfect way to do so.

2. No Trans Fats

Unlike butter and other animal products, plant-based oils are trans fat-free. Trans fats have been closely linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart attack.

3. Reduced Menopausal Symptoms

Research suggests that some plant-based oils can reduce menopausal symptoms. In particular, vegetable oils were shown to lower the severity of hot flushes, which is a common symptom in menopause.

4. High Micronutrient Content

Every plant-based oil contains a selection of micronutrients. They tend to be high in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).

If you want to increase your micronutrient intake or you have a nutrient deficiency, incorporating more plant-based oils into your diet will help.

5. Improved Flavor

You can use vegetable oils to fry ingredients to create a main meal or you can drizzle it on top of salads and bread rolls. Popular cooking oils include soybean oil, peanut oil, and olive oil. Peanut oil is commonly used in salad dressings because of its unique flavor.

Using vegetable oils in your cooking not only enhances the flavor but also adds extra nutrients and omega-3s to your meals.

6. Healthier Hair

The benefits of plant-based oils aren’t exclusive to cooking and nutrition. Many vegetable oils are beneficial for hair health too.

Take a look at the labels of your favorite hair care products and it won’t take long for you to spot a plant-based oil as one of the ingredients. Common oils used in hair products include avocado, coconut, and jojoba oils.

Innovative Technologies to Help a Start-Up in Beverage Industry

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For businesses trying to make a name for themselves in the beverage industry, the challenges are vast and varied. Yes, the sector can be a profitable one – it’s predicted that the global market will be worth $1.86 trillion by 2024 – but that does not mean there are any guarantees of success.

There are a wide range of difficulties facing start-ups of all kinds, and being able to make an impression within the drinks industry is certainly no different. Of course, not every enterprise will start out hoping to become the next Coca Cola, Heineken or Starbucks, but having a solid business plan and a clearly defined set of goals is likely to offer a greater chance for success.

Also Read: Step-by-Step Guide to Launch Your Small Business

Part of that planning involves identifying which tools and processes are going to help your organisation compete against its rivals. Advances are being made all the time, but which technologies might be most effective in launching a beverage business. Read on to know more:

tech-in-beverage-industry

1. Flow-through systems

Automated systems can prove invaluable in terms of streamlining the processes of sorting, packaging, labelling and distributing produce. Flow-through systems utilise robots to do the vast majority of this work, using proximity sensors in order to detect the presence of other objects and repeat the same movements. Operating in this way can help to reduce the risk of human error while simultaneously lowering running costs and increasing productivity and efficiency.

2. Industrial Internet of Things

This is where devices in an industrial setting are connected on a network in order to communicate with one another. The IIoT can enable machines involved in the manufacturing process to log data and identify any faults in the production line, which means each drink is turned out to a greater level of consistency.

3. Voice technology

Another development that is assisting beverage businesses – and those in other industries – is the emergence of voice technology. Warehouse operators can now harness this concept to issue voice commands that will be picked up by the relevant pieces of machinery, which subsequently carry out the action. This means tasks can be completed in a safer, more time-efficient manner, while it also makes training of new employees easier in that there are fewer manual skills for them to learn.

4. NFC tags

Moving away from the manufacturing side of the business, near field communication (NFC) tags can help to improve the customer experience once the product has been put to market. NFC technology is what’s used in contactless payment devices, and the concept has been adapted by the beverage industry in order to add another dimension to the product that consumers purchase.

They can be added to the label or packaging and scanned with a smartphone to unlock a range of additional information about the drink.

5. Cloud service

For businesses in any field, the challenge of data storage is one that can be difficult to overcome. Giants of the industry will have the available resources to own and run their own infrastructures, but others may not be in a position to do so or may wish to focus their spending in different areas.

As a solution, there are cloud service providers who offer products such as Virtual Desktop or Azure Virtual Desktop with rented access to certain software at a lower cost, which frees up funds for beverage companies to commit more capital towards the likes of R&D, production and marketing.

Everything You Need to Know About Glow Sticks

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You have probably come across glow sticks at some stage of your life, however other people refer to them as chemlights or light sticks. After you bend a glow stick, the glass inside shatters and it begins to glow.

After they begin to glow, you can expect them to be visible in the dark from 1 to 12 hours. The time of how long it glows for depends on the quality and the size of the glow stick. 

Remember, that once you have broken the glass inside and the light appears, you can’t turn it off. 

You can find glow sticks in all different types of shapes and sizes. Most are no longer than 10 inches, however some you can connect together to make longer ones. They are also available in lots of different colors, such as red, blue, yellow and orange. However, it seems both the orange and red don’t light up that well. 

disposal-of-glow-sticks

Glow sticks are very popular amongst kids and party goers, but what other purposes can you use glow sticks for?

Survival

If you are planning to go out in the wild, it is vital that you pack reliable lighting. For several years, it has been common for people to use glow sticks in a crisis situation. 

Unlike other sources of lighting, glow sticks don’t need batteries to work. Purchasing a quality glow stick will give you 12 hours of light, without having to worry about the batteries running out. 

Glow sticks are safe, so you don’t have to worry about them starting a fire nor will they electrocute somebody. They are even safe for children to play with.

Because they are small and lightweight, you will easily be able to find space when you are packing. 

Even the best quality glow sticks are cheap. If you are looking for value, purchasing glow sticks in bulk is your best option.

What Survival situations would a Glow Stick prove useful?

There are many reasons why you should pack a glow stick with your survival kit such as:

  • Helps you to read a topographic map in the dark. 
  • You can mark a trail directing others to your camp. 
  • Keeps large groups together: At night it is very hard to organize a lot of people, so a glow stick will prove to be a very helpful device
  • After a road accident, you can use a glow stick as a marker: Glow sticks are a great way to warn oncoming traffic that there is an accident on the roadside. If there is debris on the road or gas leaks, placing a glow stick nearby will alert others.
  • Avoid falling: If you frequently camp, you have probably tripped at some stage. Small holes, trees, and other obstacles that are not visible during the night can cause injuries. By putting a glow stick nearby will help warn others. You can also place glow sticks to mark a safe path. 
  • If it is raining or you are in the water, don’t worry as glow sticks are water-resistant and are perfect for wet environments. 

Glow sticks are used by militaries all over the globe as a survival tool. If you do decide to buy glow sticks in bulk and you pack a large amount in your survival kit, you can easily write SOS with them if you are stuck in a dangerous location.

How do you dispose of Glow Sticks and are they safe?

One of the disadvantages of using glow sticks is that there is no environmentally safe way that you can recycle them. As each one has chemicals inside, the plastic casing cannot be reused nor can it be repurposed. 

The reason why glow sticks produce light is that there are two main ingredients that cause a chemical reaction.

Although the casing is made of strong plastic, be careful of young children or pets chewing on the plastic. Although the chemicals are not that toxic, it is not advised to ingest them. If a child swallows some of the chemicals, make sure to rinse his or her mouth immediately. Speak to your doctor if the child has swallowed a lot. 

Click on the link for more details on how to properly disposing glow sticks.

Summary

Glow sticks have a shelf life of around 4 years, as long as it is kept in its original foil packaging. If it has been removed, you can expect it to last for 1 year. If you decide to buy in bulk, keep this in mind. If you have a large number of glow sticks and think they are out of date, test one before you throw them all away. 

Glow sticks are not just a great source of lighting, but children and families can play lots of games and have a fantastic time with them.

How IoT, APIs and AI Can Make Waste Management Smarter?

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Cities have been growing around the globe in the past few years. A United Nations report has estimated that about 68% of the world’s total population will be living in urban centers by the year 2050. This will see an increase of about 70% in solid waste, according to the World Bank.

This might be difficult to handle considering that the world is already facing challenges handling waste management. An increase in solid waste might see increased illegal dumping which might lead to other challenges, especially in public health.

Fortunately, advancements in technology have seen some parts of the world adopting IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and APIs (Applications Programming Interfaces) in a bid to make waste management smarter.

how can IoT and AI make waste management better

How can IoT, APIs, and AI make waste management better?

1. e-Waste Kiosks

Among the different types of waste that you can find in a waste bin, you will also find electronic gadgets. This kind of waste is known as e-waste. The toxicological implications of e-waste, things such as laptops. MP3 players, tablets, and phones can hurt both human beings and the environment.

They, therefore, have to be recycled well to avoid these effects. Fortunately, technology can be used to build e-waste kiosks that use smart applications to evaluate and determine the condition of electronic devices.

Those that are in bad condition and already hurting their owners or the environment can then be disposed of correctly.

2. Sensors for Waste Levels

Sensors powered by APIs, IoT, and AI can be used to implement a smart waste management system that works well for cities. These sensors can be used to track how much waste a bin has accumulated and then share that information with collection service providers.

The collection service providers will not only use this information for collection when the bins are full but also for planning and prediction. For instance, they can time routes and predict when to collect a bin based on the time that a bin takes before getting full.

Research has indicated that these sensors can help reduce the cost of waste management by about 50%. This is because waste bins can be collected on time, eliminating other maintenance requirements that arise from overfilling of the bins.

3. Waste Receptacles

Using Artificial Intelligence, waste collection service providers can build waste bins that come with waste receptacles to sort through waste, recognize different types of waste, and separate them depending on the requirements of the waste collectors.

For instance, if you were to manually sort through a waste bin in a city, you will find different types of waste. Things such as plastics, glasses, nylon papers, or even food waste will be mixed in the bin.

If you were to separate them manually, this would take you a lot of time. Technology has changed this. Using AI receptacles, waste can be sorted into different categories. This plays a crucial role in the transition to smart waste management.

4. AI-Powered Recycling Robots

Looking at a waste bin, you are likely going to find a lot of waste that can be recycled. However, how long can it take a person to manually separate the waste that can be recycled from the one that cannot?

Through AI and APIs, companies can build robots that do this for them. For this to work, understanding what an API is very important. This is because the APIs communicate and share data in a bid to help the robots differentiate different types of waste.

With such robots, waste such as plastic can be reused. Different types of waste that can be reused can be sent to companies for recycling instead of landfills. Using these robots, human error can be eliminated and operational costs reduced.

Benefits of Digital Technologies in Waste Management

5. Load Monitoring of Garbage Tracks

We have talked about sensors for waste levels in waste bins above. These bins are emptied into garbage tracks. So, it also makes sense for waste collection service providers to also put sensors into their garbage tracks.

By doing this, the waste collection service providers will be able to monitor the levels of waste on their garbage tracks. This way, they can collect data that can be used to predict when their tracks are likely going to fill up.

With such information, they can find ways to minimize or reduce the number of trips they have to make when collecting garbage. Over some time, they will be able to analyze the collected data to help in future planning and minimizing operational costs.

As technology advances, we are going to see more technologies making waste management better and smarter.

4 Tips On How Smart Manufacturing Can Reduce Environmental Impact

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Manufacturing accounts for a massive portion of global carbon emissions, almost a quarter of direct global carbon emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency reports a 23 percent contribution from manufacturing companies in the United States. Varying factors drive this output, but there could be a way businesses could lessen their environmental impact.

Smart manufacturing improves many of these problem areas, leading to better environmental results. Here are four ways smart manufacturing could make a splash by lessening its environmental impact.

How Smart Manufacturing Could Lessen Environmental Impact

How Smart Manufacturing Could Lessen Environmental Impact

Global climate change has evolved into one of the most prominent concerns around the world today. The connection between manufacturers and global climate change is undeniable, leading to understandable concern in worldwide industrialization and economic development.

The manufacturing industry isn’t going anywhere, so changes need to be made. Smart manufacturing can repair and improve areas that affect environmental impact, allowing facilities to remain efficient, productive, and cost-effective without sacrificing the environment.

1. Reducing Production Waste

Many facilities produce enormous amounts of waste every year. By reducing waste output, intelligent technologies can minimize the environmental effect. There are a few ways to implement innovative technology toward lessening production waste:

  • Adopt lean manufacturing to reduce waste production with assured quality.
  • Implement an advanced manufacturing process to minimize wasted material used to make a product. 3D printing is an excellent way to reduce production waste.
  • Incorporate automation in certain areas of the process to minimize the dependence of the process on human intervention. Automated devices can reduce the regularity of human error and defection, resulting in less waste.
  • Utilize greener cleaning materials with water- and bio-based cleaners to reduce water waste.

2. Improved Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is another significant piece of the puzzle. A facility can become more energy efficient in varying areas by incorporating greener, high-end equipment designed to reduce energy consumption in specific tasks.

Additionally, internet-connected sensors can improve the performance of energy management systems, allowing facilities to reduce their energy consumption without impacting production. Intelligent scheduling and AI can also help in the efficiency process, whether at the base equipment level or covering the entire supply chain. IoT-consulting services can enable industrial manufacturing systems to be more intelligent.

robotics in sustainable manufacturing

3. Working Toward Sustainability

Sustainability is a critical factor in reducing a facility’s environmental impact. Facilities can incorporate remanufacturing to restore damaged or defective products to full functionality, allowing the product to become useable again and reducing waste.

Reconfigurable manufacturing, although initially designed to improve responsiveness to a fluctuating market, can help facilities improve and manage wastewater and emissions via system reconfiguration.

4. Adjusted Manufacturing Processes

Changing the nature of the beast is one of the most promising ways to lessen environmental impact. Facilities could switch from a chemical to a physical or biological process, reducing emissions. Additionally, facilities can directly use smart technologies to reduce specific emissions from industrial processes, such as GHG emissions.

Greener inputs can replace traditional forms of energy, such as fossil fuels, which are rapidly depleting and produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Alternative renewable energies, such as hydrogen, biobutanol, and bioethanol, could replace fossil fuels.

Bottom Line

Smart manufacturing has the potential to improve manufacturing drastically. It could be the way of the future, increasing sustainability, productivity, and cost-efficacy to reduce environmental impact.