Richland County is keeping tabs on its 160,000 trash and recycle roll carts with a technology commonly used in pets, library materials and the bibs of road race participants.

The tracking system involves small radio-frequency identification (RFID) microchips imbedded into the roll carts, each with a unique number that corresponds to the roll cart’s proper address of service. By using this RFID technology, Richland County Solid Waste & Recycling (SW&R) is able to identify stolen carts or carts that are blown away during severe weather.

It’s also common for roll carts to be relocated when residents incorrectly bring the receptacles with them when they move to a new home.

Richland County provides two 95-gallon roll carts to each of its customers for curbside trash and recycling collection. Earlier this month, SW&R began repairing and replacing more than 30,000 damaged roll carts to ensure they’re in good working order for both residents and haulers. Roll carts are property of Richland County.

In the coming months, SW&R plans to further advance its use of technology by implementing a route management system that will immediately send a notification if a collection was missed so the hauler can quickly return to the address and make the pick up.

The new system also will allow haulers to record whether or not a roll cart was placed curbside by 7 a.m. on collection day, as carts that are rolled out after 7 a.m. cannot be guaranteed collection service for that day. This information will help resolve residents’ calls about missed collections and will provide a new opportunity for the County to improve its trash and recycling service.