Challenge

For large enterprises, hazardous waste management is no longer just an operational obligation—it has become a strategic priority impacting regulatory compliance, environmental sustainability, and ESG goals.

Increasingly stringent regulations and a growing focus on traceability require organizations to move beyond manual and fragmented processes, which are often prone to errors and inefficiencies.

Hazardous waste plays a central role across industries and services, particularly within the framework of the Circular Economy.

In Europe, waste management is governed by increasingly stringent standards. In Spain, approximately 3.2% of total waste generated is classified as hazardous waste, a relatively small share in volume but highly critical in terms of traceability, safety, and regulatory compliance.

In Latin America, the challenge is primarily driven by rising volumes and infrastructure limitations. In Peru, around 8 million tons of municipal solid waste are generated annually, with waste management systems still affected by operational gaps and the presence of uncontrolled disposal sites. Across the region, average waste generation is around 1 kg per capita per day, highlighting the urgent need for digital solutions to improve efficiency, control, and sustainability.

According to data from the ISPRA Special Waste Report, over 160 million tons of hazardous waste are managed annually in Italy.

This scale makes it essential to adopt digital solutions that ensure control, reliability, and environmental compliance.

In this context, Italtel developed a pilot project for a major Italian industrial company, addressing business needs such as:

• improving the accuracy and consistency of hazardous waste classification
• simplifying on-field operational activities
• enhancing data traceability across the entire waste management lifecycle
• supporting regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability targets

Solution

Italtel designed an advanced application based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision to automate the recognition and management of hazardous waste stored in temporary on-site areas.

Through a mobile app installed on corporate smartphones, operational staff can simply take a picture of the waste. The system then:

• automatically identifies the type of waste
• assigns the correct EER (European Waste Catalogue) code
• estimates waste weight using image recognition algorithms
• triggers the digital workflow for waste handling and disposal

The solution seamlessly integrates with existing enterprise systems, automatically transferring data required for regulatory documentation, including:

• waste register (loading/unloading records)
• FIR (waste identification forms)

Benefits

By introducing automation and process standardization, the solution enables companies to:

• reduce the risk of incorrect waste disposal and non-compliance
• improve data quality and reliability
• lower the operational burden on field personnel

During pilot phases, the adoption of AI resulted in up to a 30% reduction in operational time for waste classification and registration—delivering immediate gains in efficiency, accuracy, and process control.

Security, governance & scalability

The application architecture is designed according to security and privacy-by-design principles, including:

• data encryption and secure communications
• authentication and access management via corporate identities
• personal data anonymization
• full compliance with industry regulations, including emerging AI governance requirements

The solution is delivered as a Cloud-based SaaS platform, ensuring:

• high scalability
• reliability
• easy extension to new sensors and use cases

Looking ahead

This project sits at the intersection of technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and growing market demand.

Utilities, large recycling facilities, and industrial companies are increasingly investing in AI-driven waste management solutions to enhance competitiveness and regulatory compliance.

With this initiative, Italtel reinforces its role as a technology partner capable of turning Artificial Intelligence into a tangible business enabler, delivering value for both enterprises and local communities.