TITLE:
Critical Systematic Review of the Transferability of IoT Solutions for Smart Waste Collection in Low-Resource Settings
AUTHORS:
Didi Tshimpanga Badibanga, Olivier Baraka Mushage, Audace Manirabona, Jérémie Ndikumagenge
KEYWORDS:
IoT Technologies, Smart Waste Collection, Environmental Challenges, Low-Resource Settings
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Internet of Things,
Vol.15 No.4,
October
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study assesses the transferability of IoT solutions applied to smart waste collection in low-resource settings. In line with PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review covering the period 2016-2024 was conducted across four databases (IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Scopus). Out of 329 records, 36 studies were included. Results highlight the predominance of ultrasonic sensors (~46%), the widespread use of Arduino/ESP32 (~72%) and Wi-Fi (~27%) despite their limited robustness in low-connectivity environments, while LoRa/LoRaWAN (~20%) is gaining ground. Community engagement remains marginal, with about 60% of the systems lacking any user interaction. The most transferable solutions are those that combine technical simplicity, low-power architectures, and lightweight interfaces (USSD/SMS), together with context-specific route optimization. It is therefore recommended to prioritize open, modular, and locally tested systems, to strengthen community involvement, and to align pilot projects with municipal policies.