Kiarie Al-Hasan

Drone Compost
Collection
What is composting
and what do drones
have to do with it?
Composting is…
• A from of organic waste disposal.
• Also, an aerobic decomposition process (utilized oxygen). Contrary to landfill decomposition that is anaerobic, and a
byproduct is a harmful greenhouse gas known as methane.
• The process of collecting and decomposing organic material into nutrient-rich soil/fertilizer.
• Step 1: Collect a balanced greens to browns (1:1) amount of organic material
• Step 2: Put it in a bin or pile
• Step 3: Water it
• Step 4: Let it sit and turn it 1-2X a week
• Step 5: Use your nutrient-dense soil/fertilizer
• Can be decentralized or centralized
• Decentralized: at-home and community composting.
• Centralized: facilities for large organic waste collection that collect from a vast area.
• The items able to be composted are selective. This also depends on the abilities of the facility.
The Plan
 Community Composting Community-wide
Facility compost bin distribution

The components of and collection via drones

the plan:
Educated and willing
community members
WHY DRONE
COMPOST
COLLECTION?
#1. Increased efficiency and
convenience + decrease emissions
• Decentralized composting through community composting centers is much
more efficient and convenient than centralized options:
• no hauling of waste (less emissions)
• people do not have to drop off their compost at a facility (less emissions)
#2. Promotes composting due to the
convenience and ease
• Why do people not compost right now?
• No access, not educated, too much work, too much time, smells bad, etc.

• This would allow for:

• Materials would be included and free (hopefully)
• Mass education on composting
• Step by step process would be provided
• Can do it from the comfort of your own home
#3. Boost environmental health
• Increased participation in composting boosts the environmental health by:
• Waste reduction
• Diverts organic waste to complete the loop of a circular economy instead of it going
to a landfill
• 30% of Cincinnati’s waste that ends up in the landfill is actually compostable.
• MINIMIZING WASTE AND MAXIMIZING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
• Promoting an aerobic process (composting) over an anerobic process (landfill
decomp) reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• Transportation reduction
• Promoting smaller scale composting reduces the amount of driving is done to
transport to larger facilities resulting in less emissions and a healthier planet.
 Community composting facilities

What is Yard waste pick up

happening
Drone delivery
today?
Compost collection
Community composting facilities
• Centers that serve a small area/neighborhood.
• They accept organic materials brought in by the public.
• They are great for people who do not have the resources to compost at home.
• Queen City Commons is a facility that serves Cincinnati residents!
• Downside:
• Encourages small trips to drop off compost (emissions)
• They are not commonly utilized
• Can be difficult to find/far away
Yard waste pick up
Drone delivery
• Drone delivery companies in the US typically started out of the country because of
the strict FAA regulations.
• Part 135- air carrier certification
• Drones cannot fly BVLOS
• They also cannot fly over people/roadways
• Restrictions can be bypassed (not easily) with certain waivers
• Need a system installed to ensure safety of BVLOS flying

• Last-mile drone deliveries have been integrated to solve issues with truck package
deliveries
• Less traffic congestion, cost-efficient, and environmentally conscious.
• Right now, it is very rare to see drone deliveries in urban areas because of the FAA
regulations, so most deliveries are happening in rural areas.
Compost collection: RethinkWaste Public Agency
Can drone compost collection exist
by 2043?
What needs to happen?
#1. Elicit community interest

• Compost education
• Emphasis on why it is necessary
• Incentivize it
• Tax breaks
• Discounts
• Food vouchers in ratio with how much waste you divert
• Free access to compost that is made (first come first serve)
#2. Public acceptance
• Ease the public’s mind about drone usage
• Emphasize that this isn’t precious material they are carrying
• Losing or misplacing valuable items isn’t a possibility
• Assure privacy (no video footage is saved)
#3. Regulation compliance

• Obtain certifications and special approvals where necessary.

• Who/what would take this concept up is unknown, so this could look different depending on how
the plan would come to fruition.
#4. Start small
• Starting small is key
• Focus in rural areas where restrictions aren’t as debilitating
• Gain community acceptance and trust at a smaller level
• Gives way to easier, gradual growth
What hurdles exist?
#1. Public rejection
• Drones
• Invasion of privacy
• Noise
• rural serenity
• animals in agriculture (horses)

• Composting
• Extra work to separate your waste
• Keep track of what materials are accepted
#2. Money
• Who is funding?
• Opening facilities
• construction and paying a livable wage (or will we need humans?)
• Installation of infrastructure
• Bins
• Drones
• Advertisement
• Educational materials
#3. FAA regulations

• Part 135
• lots of restrictions including when flying BVLOS

• At this point, waivers are necessary to be able to execute this plan

#4. Limited drone ability
• Not all drones are fully equipped for all situations
• Nighttime
• Cloudy
• Precipitation
• Extreme cold or hot temperatures
• Wind
How can we help
• Educate on composting
• How to do it
• Positive effects
• How easy it is
• Spread awareness of drone usage
• Don’t play into the fear
• Radical technology change isn’t always bad
• Be open to going out of your way to increase the health of our planet, and in turn, the human
race
• In the meantime, support the technologies/systems we already have that will be a part of this
plan.
Works Cited
• About the program. RethinkWaste. (n.d.). https://rethinkwaste.org/residents/single-family/about-the-program/
• About. Queen City Commons. (2023, March 31). https://www.queencitycommons.com/about-us/
• Alves, D., Villar, I. & Mato, S. Community composting strategies for biowaste treatment: methodology, bulking agent and compost
quality. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2023). https://doi-org.uc.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25564-x
• Boysen, N, Briskorn, D, Fedtke, S, Schwerdfeger, S. Drone delivery fromtrucks: Drone scheduling for given truck
routes. Networks. 2018; 72: 506–527. https://doi-org.uc.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/net.21847
• REDWOOD CITY HOSTING COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING ON NEW RESIDENTIAL RECYCLE/COMPOST/GARBAGE
COLLECTION SERVICES. (2010, Sep 08). US Fed News Service, Including US State News Retrieved from
https://uc.idm.oclc.org/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fwire-feeds%2Fredwood-city-hosting-community-
information%2Fdocview%2F749810977%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D2909
• Rumpke. (n.d.). Yard waste removal. Rumpke. https://www.rumpke.com/for-your-home/yard-waste
• (2023). YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://youtu.be/yMqbj4Kj-z0?si=dUXWaBImGxnTuua1&t=898.