Córdoba

Beyond Supply: A New Model for Managing Urban Waste Containers

Waste management in cities is evolving.

Municipalities are no longer looking simply to purchase containers. They need solutions that guarantee the continuous availability of equipment, reduce unforeseen costs, improve service quality and enable data-driven management.

With this objective in mind, the Municipal Sanitation Company of Córdoba (SADECO) adopted an innovative model: the complete renewal of its container fleet through a leasing contract that includes comprehensive maintenance over an eight-year period, entrusting CONTENUR as the technological and operational partner to deliver the project.

The result is a management model that combines product, service, digitalization and maintenance to ensure maximum efficiency throughout the entire lifecycle of the installed fleet.

A Comprehensive Renewal for the Entire City

The project includes the supply and maintenance of more than 5,300 side-loading containers for the separate collection of waste throughout the municipality of Córdoba.

The initiative has involved the complete replacement of existing models with CONTENUR’s OVAL container, modernizing both the city’s urban landscape and the functionality of the collection system.

Far more than a simple equipment renewal programme, the initiative represents a comprehensive transformation of the urban container management model.

The Challenge: Ensuring Availability, Efficiency and Control

The city needed to address several strategic challenges simultaneously:

• Renewing and maintaining the entire container fleet.
• Guaranteeing the continuous operation of the service.
• Minimizing economic and operational risks.
• Ensuring fast response times to incidents.
• Digitalizing the monitoring and control of maintenance activities.

The solution needed to provide a long-term vision, reducing uncertainty and guaranteeing consistent service levels for citizens.

A Leasing Model That Transforms Urban Management

CONTENUR’s response was to develop a leasing model with comprehensive maintenance for eight years, under which responsibility for fleet performance remains under specialized management throughout the term of the contract.

This approach incorporates two complementary lines of action:

Preventive Maintenance

The service includes scheduled maintenance programmes designed to preserve the functional, aesthetic and safety conditions of the containers before issues arise.

The flexible planning of maintenance activities allows the service to adapt to actual operational needs and continuously optimize fleet performance.

Corrective Maintenance

When an incident occurs, the model establishes specific response commitments:

• Critical incidents: resolved within a maximum of 24 hours.
• Non-critical incidents: resolved within a maximum of 48 hours.

This system guarantees operational continuity and minimizes the impact of any issue on the public service.

Digitalization and Real-Time Control

One of the most innovative elements of the project is the complete digitalization of incident and maintenance management.

Every intervention carried out is digitally recorded through a system that enables:

• Real-time recording of maintenance activities.
• Individual identification of each container through tagging technology.
• Integration with centralized databases.
• A single repository for service monitoring and control.
• GPS geolocation of all interventions.

Thanks to this technological infrastructure, SADECO benefits from full traceability, transparency and continuous service verification capabilities.

Data-driven management improves decision-making, optimizes resources and ensures compliance with agreed service levels.

The Benefits of a Fully Managed Service

The project represents a paradigm shift compared to traditional models based solely on equipment procurement.

The leasing model with comprehensive maintenance provides clear benefits for public administrations:

• Elimination of unforeseen repair costs.
• Full responsibility concentrated in a single provider.
• Continuous technological renewal.
• Ongoing improvement of citizen services.

This model transforms the container fleet into a fully managed service, where availability, maintenance, traceability and continuous improvement are all part of a single integrated solution.

OVAL: Design, Sustainability and Operational Efficiency

The city of Córdoba selected the OVAL model, developed by CONTENUR according to principles of sustainability, operational functionality and urban design.

Its concept is based on a full lifecycle philosophy, optimizing manufacturing, maintenance and the eventual replacement of components.

Its key features include:

• Integrated design adapted to the urban environment.
• Modular components that simplify maintenance.
• Compatibility with identification and digitalization systems.
• Preparedness for future technological and regulatory updates.

In addition, its robust structure helps reduce incidents, simplify technical interventions and significantly extend the service life of each unit.

Results: A More Efficient City, Ready for the Future

Through this initiative, Córdoba has consolidated a modern, digitalized and long-term guaranteed selective collection system.

More than 5,300 containers remain under a comprehensive management model that ensures optimal conditions of use, safety and functionality throughout the duration of the contract.

The project demonstrates how the combination of design, technology, specialized maintenance and digitalization can transform urban management, delivering a more efficient service for public authorities and a better experience for citizens.

A Benchmark Model for Cities Looking to Evolve

Córdoba’s experience highlights an increasingly important trend in urban management: moving from equipment purchasing to performance-based integrated service contracts.

At CONTENUR, we believe that the future of cities lies in solutions that integrate product, service, sustainability and technology into a single management model.

Córdoba is an example of how this vision can ensure operational excellence, optimize public resources and build more efficient, sustainable and future-ready urban systems.

Interested in this solution?