Implementation of a Waste Management Tracking System for Local Councils in Anambra State

Waste collection inefficiency in urban and semi-urban communities in Anambra State is partly attributable to the absence of digital tools for scheduling, monitoring, and reporting waste collection operations. This study describes the development of a waste management tracking system for local council waste management departments in Onitsha North and Awka South LGAs of Anambra State. The system was built using a React frontend and a Django REST API backend, with a PostgreSQL database. GPS-enabled tracking of waste collection vehicles was implemented using real-time coordinate updates from mobile devices attached to fleet vehicles, displayed on an administrative map dashboard. Features include route assignment, collection confirmation by drivers, complaint submission by residents, and automated route compliance reporting. The system was developed over 14 weeks using Agile methodology with bi-weekly sprint reviews involving two council waste management officers as product owners. Vehicle tracking accuracy was validated against manually verified routes for five vehicles over two weeks. The system correctly captured 97.3 percent of collection events. Resident complaints filed through the portal decreased by 28 percent during the three-month pilot period compared to the preceding quarter. The study concludes that digital waste tracking systems improve accountability in municipal waste management and recommends their adoption across all Anambra State LGA waste management departments.

Keywords: waste management tracking, local government, Anambra State, GPS tracking, smart city