Just-in-time pickups of street bins in parks and tot lots around Chicago

Smart waste management across public spaces

Project and customer description

The Northbrook Park District, serving a community of over 34,000 residents in a north shore suburb of Chicago, is dedicated to maintaining clean, safe, and welcoming parks for residents of all ages. To support efficient operations and sustainability goals, the district partnered with Sensoneo to explore smart waste management solutions across its public spaces.

Challenge

The district needed “remote eyes” in park bins to know precisely when pickups were required. This approach would prevent overflowing containers while avoiding unnecessary collection of half-empty bins, improving both staff efficiency and community experience.

Solution

The first batch of Sensoneo Single Sensor 5.0 units was installed in bins commonly found in parks and public streets across North America. Thirty units now monitor 14 neighborhood parks and tot lots throughout the park district. Connectivity is powered by the CAT-M network, ensuring reliable, real-time fill-level reporting.

Impact

Key achievements

The pilot has improved pickup efficiency while maintaining clean and inviting public spaces throughout the park district, supporting both operational and community goals.

Future Outlook

Following a successful pilot, the park district is considering installing additional devices to expand monitoring coverage.

The case study will continue to evolve with new insights and key achievements as more data becomes available.