Summary:

Selective collection system of municipal solid waste at the source is one of the key measures for increasing recycling rates and also reducing energy consumption and labor requirements associated with waste purification in waste sorting facilities. However, a significant challenge of this system is the presence of contaminants in bags and containers intended for separately collected waste. This paper presents the current legal requirements governing selective municipal waste collection in Poland and discusses the main problems and causes of incorrect waste segregation by residents. The aim of the study was to design an automated control system for selectively collected waste segregation, enabling the verification of waste deposited in containers located in waste collection enclosures through the analysis of barcodes printed on product packaging. The proposed system integrates mechanical components (a loading hatch and a chain hoist lifting mechanism), automation and electronic components (a barcode scanning module), and a modern waste enclosure design. The barcode scanning module was selected using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which enables the multi-criteria evaluation of available solutions. The system design considered functional, operational, ergonomic, and user safety requirements.