Development and Implementation of the “EcoRoute” Mobile Application for Smart Waste Collection Practices

U.P. Nawanjana Thathsarani Udawaththaa¹, R. Thivyatharsan², R.B. Thushari Maduwanthi Piyasinghe³

^1,3 Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.

² Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.   

Abstract

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management plays a crucial role in maintaining a clean and healthy urban environment. However, in areas such as Ampara in Sri Lanka, waste management systems frequently face challenges such as irregular and poor coordination between households and waste collectors. These result in the use of inappropriate waste management practices by the community, leading to higher levels of pollution. The average daily waste generation rate is 0.64 kg per capita per day in Sri Lanka, but there is a lack of appropriate waste management services in most of the cities. The main objectives of this research were to develop and evaluate the EcoRoute mobile application to enhance household waste collection efficiency and reduce environmental pollution caused by improper disposal practices. The study used a mixed-methods approach, and pre- and post-test surveys were carried out among 185 randomly selected households in three waste collection routes. The sample size was developed using a hybrid cloud model that combined a Flutter-based mobile app with a Firebase database. The system also utilized GPS technology to monitor vehicles in real-time and a feedback system to enhance engagement between residents and officials from the waste management agency. Results showed that there was a notable improvement following the implementation of the EcoRoute system. Knowledge levels regarding waste collection schedules improved among 94.6% of respondents, while missed collection rates decreased by 87.1%. Critically, open burning of waste decreased substantially from 83.3% to 2.7%, and 96.8% of residents reported that odor and pest issues were no longer problematic. Resident satisfaction with communication systems increased from 1% to 81.2%. The “EcoRoute” mobile app proved to be an effective and scalable solution to enhance municipal waste management and establish a cleaner environment.     

Keywords: EcoRoute, Environmental hygiene, Mobile application, Smart Waste Management (SWM), Sri Lanka

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