Future Labs Challenge Brief: Waste Sorting and Segmentation

The Problem: DTFO train operators deliver over 300 million passenger journeys annually. Those customers and our colleagues produce waste; across our managed stations we process more than 500 tonnes every 4 weeks. Some of our stations have sorting hubs where waste is manually separated to extract food and recyclables, helping to improve waste segmentation on our networks, and we are looking at scaling this out to other stations too. However, this is a time-consuming and resource intensive activity.A lot of our trains arrive and depart from terminus stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly, or London Kings Cross. Removing the waste from the trains can be a time-consuming process that potentially leads to delays boarding passengers, or passengers boarding dirty trains, both of which impact the experience they have. In 2025, a new timetable will be implemented on the East Coast Mainline, introducing more trains than ever before, meaning more passengers and more waste. We therefore need a better way of collecting, sorting and managing our waste. Space is limited on board our trains, and although waste bins are located throughout, these are required to be frequently emptied with only a finite amount of waste able to be stored onboard ahead of arriving at a station where they can then be removed.Cleanliness and how we manage waste is a key driver of customer experience satisfaction. It is therefore important that we maintain and continuously look for ways to improve the efficiency of our waste management.

The Challenge: How might we:

Increase the amount of waste we sort at our stations making it a quicker and more efficient process?

Automate waste sorting in stations to increase efficiency and accuracy of waste sorting?

Store more waste onboard a train to allow for quicker removal and cleaning of services?

Enable waste sorting on trains so that it removes the need to sort in station?

Influence customer behaviour to sort their own waste to reduce cross-contamination of different waste types?

Educate colleagues and customers so they know whether their waste is recyclable and which bin to put it in?

Constraints: What the solution must work within

Onboard solutions must exist within onboard space and regulations

Public-facing bins within stations are subject to strict security requirements

Solutions must comply with simpler recycling legislation