IoT-Enabled Waste Management in Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review

The growing population of cities has increased the pressure on the waste management systems and therefore, new and better approaches are needed. This paper aims to present the theoretical underpinning of the application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the improvement of waste collection in smart cities. In this regard, this paper reviews the latest trends, methodologies, and technologies from a vast collection of peer-reviewed papers published between 2018 and 2024. The areas of focus include real-time monitoring systems, predictive analytics, and optimization algorithms that have created new norms in traditional waste management. The review discusses the novel concept of IoT-based smart bins, dynamic waste collection routing, and data-based decision-making frameworks which yield significant environmental and economic benefits. According to established studies, reported outcomes include reduced overflow and manual labor costs, improved routing efficiency, enhanced recycling processes, optimized bin placement, and increased energy savings. Across a variety of cities, reports comparing pre-IoT operations with IoT-enhanced ones have found remarkable decreases in operating costs, resource allocation, and overall sustainability performance improvements. However, challenges in data security, interoperability and scalability still exist,  highlighting the need for a standardized framework and policies. This review contributes to the existing body of knowledge by identifying research gaps and proposing directions for future work. It emphasizes the importance of hybrid approaches combining IoT with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain to address the limitations of current systems. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers aiming to foster sustainable and smart urban ecosystems.

@article{Alaoui2025,
  title     = {IoT-Enabled Waste Management in Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review},
  journal   = {International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications},
  volume    = {16},
  number    = {4},
  year      = {2025},
  publisher = {The Science and Information Organization},
  author    = {Moulay Lakbir Tahiri Alaoui and Meryam Belhiah and Soumia Ziti},
  doi       = {10.14569/IJACSA.2025.0160415},
  url       = {https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2025.0160415}
}