Space based support services for waste management

In 2018, over two million tonnes of waste were generated by all economic activities and households in the EU. The ESA-backed Waste-IAP project uses EO data and GNSS technology to identify and monitor legal and illegal waste sites and track high value waste transportation, enhancing waste management.

Source: Eurostat

The Waste-IAP project aims at using Earth Observation data (SAR and Optical) in order to identify illegal waste sites and monitor legal sites. GNSS technology will also be used to track the destination of high value waste and help identify the vehicles that transport it. This will potentially provide legitimate waste companies with proof of compliance of their operational activities, and agencies and governments with evidence of illegal activity that can be used in a court of law. Main users of the service are: environment agencies & regulators, governments, large scale waste companies, and compliance schemes. The service makes use of EO data for monitoring and GNSS for tracking.