METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING THE FEASIBILITY AND POSSIBILITY CRITERIA FOR IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN RURAL AND SETTLEMENT COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The article examines the urgent problem of substantiating the implementation of digital technologies for monitoring solid municipal waste (SMW) within the waste management systems of rural and settlement communities in the Poltava region. The process of digital transformation in the waste management sector requires comprehensive scientific substantiation that extends beyond purely technological updates. A systematic approach to defining criteria for innovation implementation allows for a harmonious combination of strategic state priorities with economic capabilities and social expectations of society. The raw data for forming these criteria were drawn from the sanitary cleaning schemes of six territorial communities in the Poltava region, which contain information on logistical routes, vehicle fleets, as well as technological and economic indicators. The paper proposes a methodology for determining the criteria for the feasibility and possibility of implementing such systems. This methodology is based on the assessment of logistical, technological, and organizational factors and considers the potential for creating a three-tier digital system model: "community – cluster – region." This model aligns with the cluster approach of the regional strategy and establishes a foundation for building an effective waste management system in the Poltava region. The core of the methodology is the determination of the Digital Feasibility Index), which allows for a quantitative assessment of the efficiency of digitalization investments for each specific community or cluster. Based on the analysis of empirical data, three key criteria are proposed: the logistical inefficiency coefficient), the container fleet density coefficient, and the inter-municipal cooperation coefficient). This methodology for assessing the resource readiness (possibility) of a community focuses on technical, personnel, infrastructural, and organizational prerequisites. Financial possibility is based on the availability of sources to cover capital expenditures (IoT sensors, RFID tags, GPS trackers) and the stability of the budget for operational expenses. Technological readiness includes the condition of the garbage truck fleet and the quality of communication networks (NB-IoT, LoRaWAN). Personnel capacity involves the availability of specialists to manage the GIS system and the readiness of staff for a new logistical model. Organizational prerequisites include an assessment of the road network condition and the potential for inter-municipal cooperation. Participation in a cluster is viewed as a realistic opportunity to gain access to a shared digital platform.