Award-winning! Smart Work 2025: Utilizing an electronic survey and geospatial data in compost bin inspections

In densely populated urban areas, residents are required to participate in the separate collection of biowaste, or they may compost their biowaste themselves. From an equality perspective, it is important for residents that the waste management authority monitors composting through inspections. However, these inspections require a considerable amount of working time.

In summer 2024, residents of the properties to be inspected were sent a short and clear electronic survey instead of a paper letter, informing them of the upcoming inspection and its purpose. Residents were asked, among other things, whether their compost bin could be inspected without them being present. The wording of the questions guided residents toward choosing the option that would make the inspection process run most smoothly. Inspections are most efficient when the resident is not present, as this eliminates the need to coordinate schedules.

The inspections made use of geospatial data in real time. Information about the property, its compost bin and location, as well as any additional details provided by the resident, was available during the inspection, embedded directly into a map. The inspections were carried out using a tablet.

With the help of the new method, waste board employees inspected a total of 308 compost bins over six working days in 2024, compared to 117 inspections carried out over eight working days in 2022. The work became significantly more efficient.

The new method streamlines the inspection process by combining survey data from residents with the authority’s register data and geospatial information.

Compost bin inspections are carried out annually. The new method will be used during summer 2025.

Developers

Annika Antila, Waste Management Planner
Vaula Malkamäki, Waste Management Planner
Pinja Lehti, Waste Management Planner
Kirsi Lahti, Administrative Secretary
Veera Petäsnoro, Waste Management Planner