Intelligent Dumpsters and Sustainable Waste Disposal with Ben Chehebar, VP of Hardware at RoadRunner Recycling, and Jason Gates, Senior VP of Strategy at RoadRunner Recycling
Ben Chehebar and Jason Gates, founders of Compology (now part of RoadRunner Recycling), explain how they pivoted from a residential anaerobic digester concept to building smart connected cameras that monitor dumpster fill levels and contamination. They detail the hardware challenges of creating rugged, long-life devices using Cat M cellular connectivity and machine learning, and discuss how they overcame resistance from waste haulers by selling directly to large waste generators like McDonald's and Starbucks. The episode covers their acquisition by RoadRunner, the integration of their technology into outsourced waste management, and the broader shift in corporate incentives toward ESG reporting and cost reduction.