Waste management has become a tremendous challenge for cities. In Chile, recycling rates are below 10%, but the revenue of non-hazardous waste collection is projected to reach $1.12 billion dollars in 2018. Meanwhile, the inadequate disposal of non-organic waste includes environmental pollution and public health damages due to the obstruction of natural and artificial drainage systems, heavy metal contamination from electronic waste, and toxic fumes from burnt plastic waste.
Trash Track Antofagasta is a project developed by the Senseable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and proposes to work with key stakeholders to deploy sensors to track and map the routes non-organic waste (and potentially recyclable material) from its initial disposal by users to its final destination. Mapping these complex routes is a powerful tool to increase awareness among citizens, help the elaboration of waste management, and have the local community engaged in finding solutions.