labs@atheron:~/industries/waste-recycling/apps$ build app --web --mobile

Collection apps

Routes, carts and scale houses for waste and recycling.

Waste software is judged on a cold morning by a driver with a full route and a resident on the phone. We build the in-cab app, the cart records and the scale house around those moments, so every lift and every tonne is recorded when it happens.

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// what matters here

What is different in this industry.

Every lift recorded

RFID on carts or GPS and time on the truck record each service, so a missed pickup call is answered with a record rather than a guess.

Routes the cab can follow

Routes planned and balanced in the office and pushed to an in-cab tablet, stop by stop, with changes arriving during the day.

Weights never typed

The scale house reads the indicator directly, applies the customer's rates and sends the invoice to QuickBooks Online, built on its API.

Diversion from the data

Tonnage by material and destination comes from scale and lift records, so the year-end report is a query, not a project.

// example projects

Priced examples for this service.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Routes with an in-cab app

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A private hauler plans its routes on paper, cannot prove a missed pickup either way, and finds out about overflowing bins from angry calls.

// What we would build

Route planning for the dispatch office and an Android app on in-cab tablets that guides drivers stop by stop, records each service with GPS and a photo when needed, logs blocked or contaminated bins, and sends exceptions back to dispatch in real time.

// What is in it

Routes planned and balanced by the office, with changes pushed to the cab
Stop-by-stop guidance on an in-cab tablet, with GPS on every truck
Service confirmed by location and time, with photos of blocked or overflowing bins
Exceptions sent to dispatch and customer service as they happen
GPS trackers listed by quantity, with monthly data costs shown

// Stack

Next.js
Kotlin for Android
PostgreSQL with PostGIS
Routing engine
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$104,000 to US$159,000, delivered within 25 weeksCAD 148,300 to 226,800
Hosting: ≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month
Hardware: ≈ US$9,190CAD 13,090

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 3.5 to 4 weeks
Design approved: 5 to 8.5 weeks
Core features: 2.5 to 3.5 weeks
Full build: 1.5 to 2.5 weeks
First build on devices: 3.5 to 5.5 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.5 to 1 weeks
Store submission: 1 to 2 weeks
Launch: 1 to 2 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week
Hardware delivery, after it is ordered: 2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 29,660 to 45,360
Discovery 9.1%: CAD 13,495.30 to 20,638.80
Design approved 9.1%: CAD 13,495.30 to 20,638.80
Core features 9.2%: CAD 13,643.60 to 20,865.60
Full build 6.1%: CAD 9,046.30 to 13,834.80
First build on devices 18%: CAD 26,694 to 40,824
Testing and fixes 3%: CAD 4,449 to 6,804
Store submission 6%: CAD 8,898 to 13,608
Launch 9.5%: CAD 14,088.50 to 21,546.00
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 14,830 to 22,680
Battery GPS tracker x 40: CAD 13,090. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appMaterials tracking

RFID cart program

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A municipality delivers tens of thousands of carts, cannot say which cart is at which address, and handles missed pickup complaints without any record of the lift.

// What we would build

UHF RFID tags on every cart, readers and an edge gateway on each truck that record every lift with the time and location, a cart inventory by address, and customer service screens that show the lift history when a resident calls.

// What is in it

An RFID tag on every cart, tied to an address at delivery
Truck-mounted readers and an edge gateway recording every lift
Lift history by address for customer service, in English and French
Cart inventory, swaps and repairs tracked by tag
Installation of the truck readers by a local contractor, shown as an indicative range

// Stack

UHF RFID (EPC Gen2)
Edge gateways on trucks
Next.js
PostgreSQL with PostGIS
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$132,000 to US$202,000, delivered within 32 weeksCAD 188,500 to 288,200
Hosting: ≈ US$772 a monthCAD 1,100 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month
Hardware: ≈ US$76,900CAD 109,490

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Discovery and site walk-through: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Stock, receiving and transfers: 2.9 to 4.9 weeks
Tracking and devices working: 1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Pilot site live: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Report checked against a past period: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Site survey and installation: 0.5 to 1 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Rollout: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Hardware delivery, after it is ordered: 3 to 6 weeks
Site survey and installation by a local contractor: 2 to 6 weeks
Fleet GPS API access from your provider: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 37,700 to 57,640
Discovery 1.7%: CAD 3,204.50 to 4,899.40
Discovery and site walk-through 5%: CAD 9,425 to 14,410
Design approved 6.8%: CAD 12,818.00 to 19,597.60
Core features 5.1%: CAD 9,613.50 to 14,698.20
Full build 3.4%: CAD 6,409.00 to 9,798.80
Stock, receiving and transfers 15.2%: CAD 28,652.00 to 43,806.40
Tracking and devices working 10.1%: CAD 19,038.50 to 29,108.20
Testing and fixes 1.7%: CAD 3,204.50 to 4,899.40
Pilot site live 5%: CAD 9,425 to 14,410
Report checked against a past period 8.7%: CAD 16,399.50 to 25,073.40
Launch 1.7%: CAD 3,204.50 to 4,899.40
Rollout 5.6%: CAD 10,556.00 to 16,139.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 18,850 to 28,820
Fixed UHF RFID reader x 20: CAD 54,020. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
UHF RFID tags, 1,000 x 60: CAD 30,100. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Battery GPS tracker x 20: CAD 6,550. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Cellular edge gateway x 20: CAD 9,730. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Handheld UHF RFID reader x 2: CAD 7,420. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
UHF RFID development kit, for our build and testing: CAD 1,360. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Cellular GPS development kit, for our build and testing: CAD 310. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Scale house and billing

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A transfer station writes scale tickets by hand, types them into billing later, and its commercial customers wait weeks for invoices they then dispute.

// What we would build

A scale house app that reads the scale indicator directly, prints and stores tickets, applies each customer's rates by material, and posts invoices and payments to QuickBooks Online, built on the QuickBooks Online API, with a portal where customers see their tickets.

// What is in it

Weights read directly from the scale indicator, never typed
Tickets by customer, vehicle and material, printed and stored
Rates by customer and material, with tipping fees applied automatically
Invoices and payments synced both ways with QuickBooks Online
Tonnage by material for diversion and landfill reports

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
Scale indicator interface
QuickBooks Online API
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$97,700 to US$149,000, delivered within 24 weeksCAD 139,100 to 212,700
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month
Hardware: ≈ US$2,950 to US$6,460CAD 4,200 to 9,200

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Data mapping and sandbox connection: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 3.4 to 5.9 weeks
Core features: 1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Full build: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Sync built and reconciled in sandbox: 2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 to 0.9 weeks
Report checked against a past period: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Live cutover: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Hypercare: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Hardware delivery, after it is ordered: 2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 27,820 to 42,540
Discovery 3.4%: CAD 4,729.40 to 7,231.80
Data mapping and sandbox connection 5%: CAD 6,955 to 10,635
Design approved 3.4%: CAD 4,729.40 to 7,231.80
Core features 10.3%: CAD 14,327.30 to 21,908.10
Full build 6.8%: CAD 9,458.80 to 14,463.60
Sync built and reconciled in sandbox 15.1%: CAD 21,004.10 to 32,117.70
Testing and fixes 3.4%: CAD 4,729.40 to 7,231.80
Report checked against a past period 8.7%: CAD 12,101.70 to 18,504.90
Launch 3.4%: CAD 4,729.40 to 7,231.80
Live cutover 5%: CAD 6,955 to 10,635
Hypercare 5.5%: CAD 7,650.50 to 11,698.50
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 13,910 to 21,270
Entry server x 1: CAD 4,200 to 9,200. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones

Start from this example

// questions

Questions we get about this.

Can it work with our existing truck GPS?

Usually. Most fleet GPS and onboard computer providers have an API. Where there is none, in-cab tablets with GPS replace it.

Who installs readers on the trucks?

A local contractor or your fleet shop, with our layout and configuration. The estimate shows an indicative range for that work separately.

Does the scale house need new scales?

Rarely. We read most scale indicators through their serial or network output. We check your indicator model before quoting.

Back to the industry: Waste and recycling About the service: Web and mobile apps

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Start a project Book a call