Nicosia: optimised waste collection routing
The Challenge
Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, aims to efficiently optimise waste collection routes and reduce emissions.
The expected solution must be:
- Route optimisation – a solution which presents the most efficient routes to minimise the total number of waste collection hours, reduce the number of resources required, and target hard to reach areas.
- Public engagement – understanding about citizens’ concerns related to improved waste collection
- Roadmap towards lower CO2 emissions – calculations and plans to reduce fuel use (litres/km) and CO2 emissions (tons/year) thanks to optimised waste collection.
Who can apply?
The call is open to startups and SMEs. As a mono-beneficiary scheme, it is aimed at single legal entities and all proposals must therefore be submitted by a single entity. Consortia are not permitted.
Additionally:
- They must be registered as legal entities in either an EU member state or a third country associated with Horizon Europe, including the United Kingdom.
- To ensure a balanced project portfolio, SMEs selected for the EIT Urban Mobility 2024 RAPTOR Call and the previous SME Market Expansion 2024 open call are not eligible to apply for this call.
Background
Waste collection systems in Nicosia face significant challenges that hinder operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. The fleet of 31 vehicles is largely outdated, resulting in frequent mechanical breakdowns, and larger vehicles are not able to access some high-density areas and narrow streets in the old city. While the fleet is equipped with GPS systems, the current route planning does not effectively optimise collection routes based on vehicle size, availability, or ongoing breakdowns leading to increased operational costs and service delays. In approximately one year, Nicosia will implement a “Pay As You Throw” system, which is expected to significantly impact the volume of waste collected and the planning of collection routes. Nicosia is seeking a solution that would integrate with this system that is expected to be launched in full in 2026.