Implementation of a Smart Waste Management System for UNN Campus Using IoT

Inadequate waste management on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus contributes to environmental degradation, public health risks, and an unsightly campus environment, issues exacerbated by irregular bin collection schedules and overflowing waste points. This study implements a smart waste management system for the UNN campus, using IoT-enabled smart bins fitted with ultrasonic fill-level sensors that transmit real-time data to a centralized waste management dashboard, enabling dynamic collection routing based on bin capacity. The system integrates HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors, ESP8266 Wi-Fi modules, and a cloud dashboard built on ThingSpeak with custom routing logic. Prototype smart bins were deployed at 15 locations across the UNN main campus over a six-week evaluation period. A Dijkstra's algorithm-based route optimizer was implemented to generate efficient collection paths based on bin fill data. Results indicate that the smart routing system reduced total collection vehicle distance by 34 percent compared to the fixed-schedule approach and decreased the frequency of overflow incidents from an average of 19 per week to 4 per week. Maintenance staff reported improved scheduling confidence and reduced workload. The study concludes that IoT-enabled smart waste management systems offer a practical and scalable upgrade for Nigerian university campus sanitation. Recommendations include solar charging for sensor nodes and integration with the university's facilities management information system.