Author | Elvira Esparza

Can you imagine not waking up to the disruptive noise of a waste collection truck emptying bins in the middle of the night? In some cities, this is now possible thanks to the installation of underground pneumatic waste collection systems. This system not only minimizes noise but also helps keep streets cleaner, reduces pollution, and alleviates traffic congestion.

Pneumatic waste collection is not a recent technology; it was first invented in Sweden in the 1950s. Over the past 50 years, pneumatic waste collection has been implemented in numerous cities worldwide. Among its many benefits, it reduces carbon emissions from traditional waste collection methods and contributes to creating cleaner, more sustainable cities.

How does pneumatic waste collection work?

Pneumatic waste collection is a smart waste management system. This system involves installing collection points both inside and outside buildings, where users can deposit waste sorted by type (organic, mixed, recyclable, etc.). These inlets are connected to an automated underground pneumatic piping system that transports the waste to central collection stations. To access these waste collection points, existing systems typically incorporate RFID labels, allowing users to be identified and ensuring that the costs of managing the system are distributed according to each user’s actual usage.

The system operates automatically. The bags placed in the collection points travel through the pipes until they reach a level that activates sensors, triggering the emptying process. Using a powerful airflow system generated by powerful fans, waste bags are vacuumed and transported at high speed through pneumatic pipes until they reach the storage facility.

In this area, each type of waste is placed in its designated container for compaction. Finally, when the container is full, the compacted waste is loaded onto trucks for transport to recycling centers.

Advantages and disadvantages of pneumatic waste collection

The advantages of this waste elimination system include:

• Economic savings. The system reduces the number of personnel needed for waste collection and minimizes the use of trucks for transportation.
• Environmental improvements. It reduces environmental pollution by eliminating the need for trucks, and the air generated during the process is cleaner. It also eliminates the need for street containers, which can cause dirt and pose health risks.
• User friendly. Users can deposit waste easily and safely, 24 hours a day.

But there are also disadvantages:

• High cost. The installation of the system requires a significant investment, making it impractical for low-population-density areas, as the savings would not justify the installation costs. However, the installation cost is amortized over time, as the system’s lifespan exceeds 30 years.
• Limited waste. The size of the pipes can make it difficult to handle large volumes of waste, potentially causing system issues, which makes waste separation essential.

Milestones in the development of pneumatic waste collection systems

Sweden was the first country to implement the pneumatic waste collection system in 1961, initially to manage waste disposal in a hospital.

The first pneumatic waste collection system in the United States was installed at Disney World in 1971. Four years later, in 1975, architect Philip Johnson introduced the system on  Roosevelt Island, as part of his vision for a futuristic city designed to accommodate 14,000 residents.

In 2008, London installed this system in the Wembley Park district, reporting annual savings of $600,000, according to a report by the local city council.

The world’s largest automatic waste collection system built by MariMatic is in Mecca. This system collects 900 tons of waste daily from over 400 points across the city and utilizes a network of over 40 kilometers of pipes to transport it to a treatment plant.

The smart city of Songdo in South Korea also employs this system for waste disposal, helping to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

Spain is a leader in pneumatic waste collection

Spain has approximately 70 pneumatic waste collection systems installed across 31 cities. These figures make Spain the second-leading country in Europe, after Sweden.

Barcelona was the first city to implement this system in 1992, installing it in the buildings in the Olympic Village. The system was later expanded to neighborhoods with narrow streets that lacked space for containers, and today it serves 50,000 homes.

Vitoria-Gasteiz has six pneumatic collection systems covering nearly 43% of the population of the neighborhoods of the Old Quarter, Ibaiondo, Salburua, Zabalgana, Mariturri, Aretxabaleta, Gardelegui and Esmaltaciones.

Pamplona has two pneumatic waste collection plants serving the neighborhoods of Erripagaña, Lezkairu, Arrosadía, Entremutilvas, and Ripagaina, covering 30% of the city’s population, or approximately 60,000 residents.

Zaragoza has had this system in place since 2007 in the eco-neighborhood of Valdespartera, serving 10,000 homes and 26,000 residents.

Madrid implemented the system in the eco-neighborhood of Vallecas in 2022, serving 1,588 homes and with the capacity to collect five tons of waste daily.

Images | Issaurinko/iStock, envac