Experts estimate 50 billion connected devices by 2020. We typically think of the Internet of Things (IoT) in terms of autonomous cars, fitness wearables and smart homes, but some of the best applications of IoT technology are in fields that are industrial and intensely practical. One such example is waste management.

The U.S. generates nearly 230 million tons of trash every year – that’s 4.6 pounds of waste per person, per day. With strained budgets and growing populations, most nations are facing a crisis that keeps growing.

But there is a resolution: sustainability-focused IoT companies look at the waste crisis as both a challenge and as an opportunity to invent solutions that will reduce costs and increase efficiency. In fact, they’ve already made a number of significant advancements by innovating with sensor technology.