Prospects for the development of the waste management industry within the framework of the Industry 4.0 concept

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the potential development opportunities of the waste management industry with the introduction of digital technologies. The main technologies already developed, as well as promising research in this industry are considered: robotics, artificial intelligence and neural networks, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, data analysis. Specific examples of the use of the described technologies in the field of waste management, their advantages and disadvantages are given. The authors analyzed waste management processes that are transformed within the framework of the Industry 4.0 concept: logistics of solid municipal waste (MSW), document management in MSW management and the process of sorting waste coming from enterprises and the population. The analysis of the main driving forces and barriers to the development and implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in the field of waste management is presented. It is revealed that the main driving forces are: an increase in the amount of waste generated, consumer expectations, price pressure, urbanization, climate crisis, business models. The main barriers are: large investment costs, security issues, the lack of a digital ecosystem and the lack of digital literacy among the population. In addition, the article discusses the possible consequences of the use of digital technologies in the field of waste management. These consequences are primarily associated with an increase in energy consumption in order to create and develop digital technologies, as well as the use of additional resources for the production of infrastructure, computers, various robots and other devices. Important is the fact that any infrastructure has a life cycle, and eventually becomes a waste itself.