EcoOnline > Case Studies > Digital Transformation in Waste Management: A Case Study of Greener Ealing

Digital Transformation in Waste Management: A Case Study of Greener Ealing

Technology Category

Sensors - Environmental Sensors
Sensors - Level Sensors

Applicable Industries

Education
Recycling & Waste Management

Applicable Functions

Maintenance
Procurement

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Predictive Waste Reduction

Services

System Integration
Training

About The Customer

Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL) is a local authority company (LAC) founded in July 2020 to serve as Ealing Council’s new waste and recycling contractor. GEL is a wholly owned subsidiary of The London Borough of Ealing and was set up to deliver high-quality sustainable waste, recycling, street cleansing, grounds maintenance, and associated services on behalf of the council, the residents who live in the borough of Ealing, and other service users in the borough. GEL aims to be recognized as one of the leading environmental services providers in London by delivering significant and lasting improvements to the quality of services, making Ealing a desirable place to live, work, and visit. It employs around 350 people.

The Challenge

Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL), a local authority company founded in July 2020, was tasked with becoming Ealing Council’s new waste and recycling contractor. As a new standalone organization serving over 350,000 residents, GEL faced the challenge of implementing effective systems quickly to support their employees and deliver the expected service. The first requirement was a risk management system to record any accidents involving its employees and vehicles to help identify trends and mitigate against future potential accidents. This was crucial as GEL is responsible for weekly waste collections, along with other waste management services in the borough. GEL also aimed to invest in their employees to achieve their ambition of becoming a leader in the waste management field. They wanted to elevate how employees viewed their roles and appreciate the skills and knowledge required to do them well. Furthermore, GEL was keen to digitize as many processes as possible, eliminating the need for time-consuming inefficient paperwork.

The Solution

To address these challenges, GEL partnered with Info Exchange in March 2020 to tailor its software to meet GEL’s specific requirements and create a tailored event-logging system. Remote access forms were introduced to capture as many risk events as possible, allowing operatives to log incidents easily and quickly while on the move. A training matrix was built to capture all training requirements across the organization, ensuring employees have all their certificates up to date. As the relationship between GEL and Info Exchange proved beneficial, more systems were added, including the Stocks and Assets system, which allows employees to order their own equipment. Other systems added include Audits and Inspections, Training Requests, and a Document Library, all supporting GEL’s drive towards digitization, better risk management, and making processes easier for their employees.

Operational Impact

The implementation of these systems has provided a robust risk management framework for GEL, supporting their aim to provide sustainable, high-quality services to the borough. The Stocks and Assets system has already made its mark by making ordering far more efficient. Employees are now up to date with their training and feel a growing sense of pride in their work and the value they offer their community. The digitization of processes has not only improved efficiency but also eliminated the need for time-consuming paperwork. The partnership with Info Exchange has led to the development of more systems tailored to GEL’s needs, demonstrating a high level of collaboration and trust. More projects are in the pipeline, including the introduction of information dashboards and other products that could benefit the organization.

Quantitative Benefit

Since July 2020, the number of risk-events being captured has risen significantly, providing a clearer idea of any risks.
The Stocks and Assets system has made ordering far more efficient, with operatives getting their equipment in a few days, not a week.
The new system is saving money as stock can be audited down to the last penny, meaning budgets are going further and being spent where needed most.