Industry 4.0: A New Window for the Future Waste Management Systems

The fourth industry (I4.0) revolution aims for viable and sustainable manufacturing systems, and this approach significantly improved waste management efficiency through machinery applications and digital transformation. Nevertheless, the increase in global demand leads to an imminent problem for future generations, making embracing a circular economy mandatory. Thus, countries must adopt intelligent manufacturing processes with strategic innovation programs to reduce waste and, at the same time, increase efficiency. I4.0 has been proposed to impact three dimensions: the environmental, the economic, and the social paradigm. This work considers a systematic study of the I4.0 for waste industry management. The innovative technologies of the I4.0 are attractive alternatives that can help reduce, recover, reuse, and recycle raw materials and discarded products such as batteries and electronic components. Among the technologies in question, radiofrequency identification and wireless communication, along with data-driven, can help measure and trace waste production, ultimately improving income and time. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digitalization can be used to recover and select waste for a second-life application or disposal, which might also reduce labor risk. These issues can be optimized only by considering the three dimensions of this revolution to achieve social transformation effectively. The study points out that adequate waste management through I4.0 has tremendous benefits, such as cost reduction, improved efficiency, waste elimination, and labor risk reduction. Finally, the barriers, challenges, and limitations of practical application of I4.0 technologies are addressed, and some proposals are explored for adopting I4.0 as an effective tool for waste management.