Chathuranga Madhushan is a Network and Security Technology professional and a B.ICT (Hons) undergraduate at South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. He has knowledge of computer networking, cybersecurity, network administration, vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, and cloud technologies. He has completed several Cisco Networking Academy courses, along with training in AWS, Google Cloud, Linux, and cybersecurity. He currently works as a Technical Assistant at Sri Lanka Telecom (Services) Ltd. His projects include secure enterprise network simulation and an IoT-based smart waste management system. He is passionate about network security, emerging technologies, and developing innovative IT solutions.

Title: IoT-Enabled Smart Monitoring Systems for Healthcare Waste Management: A Low-Cost Arduino-Based Approach with Lessons for Digital Health Infrastructure

Abstract: The rapid digitalization of healthcare systems has transformed surgical practice, diagnostics, and patient monitoring. However, a critical yet often overlooked component of modern healthcare infrastructure is the efficient management of medical and plastic waste generated by hospitals, surgical theatres, and clinics. Improper waste handling in healthcare settings poses serious infection control risks, environmental hazards, and operational inefficiencies—particularly in minimally invasive surgical environments where single-use plastics and sterile packaging dominate.

This presentation introduces a low-cost, IoT-enabled smart waste monitoring system built on Arduino/ESP32 architecture, originally developed for urban plastic waste management and now adapted for healthcare environments. The system integrates:

· Ultrasonic sensors for real-time fill-level detection of waste bins

· ESP32 microcontrollers for edge data processing

· GPS modules for tracking bin locations within hospital complexes

· LoRa communication for long-range, low-power data transmission across large medical facilities

· Cloud-based dashboards (Firebase) and a mobile monitoring interface (Flutter) for real-time alerts and route optimization

When a bin reaches a predefined capacity threshold (e.g., 90%), automated alerts are sent to waste management teams, enabling just-in-time collection and reducing the risk of overflow in sterile environments. The system is solar/battery powered, making it scalable for resource-limited healthcare settings.

The presentation will discuss:

1. How IoT-driven monitoring can support digital health infrastructure and hospital hygiene protocols

2. The intersection of smart waste management with minimally invasive surgical workflows, where efficient disposal of surgical plastics is critical

3. Lessons learned from deploying low-cost sensor networks in urban environments and their transferability to clinical and surgical settings

4. Future directions for integrating such systems with robotic surgery platforms and smart hospital ecosystems

By demonstrating a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and scalable monitoring solution, this work contributes to the broader vision of NextGen Surgery—where digital health, automation, and sustainability converge to improve patient safety, operational efficiency, and environmental responsibility in modern medicine.

Keywords: IoT, smart healthcare waste management, Arduino, ESP32, LoRa, digital health, minimally invasive surgery, hospital infrastructure, sustainable medicine.