Requesting and controlling access to waste collection points

A method for requesting access to a waste collection point, wherein the waste collection point comprises at least one waste container and at least one hatch connected to the at least one waste container, and wherein the method comprises:

• (a) receiving a user input in a mobile user device, the user input comprising an indication of at least one waste container to be accessed among the at least one waste container of the waste collection point;
• (b) detecting when the mobile user device is in a vicinity of the waste collection point;
• and
• (c) sending at least one access request from the mobile user device to an access control system to unlock or open the at least one hatch connected to the at least one waste container to be accessed, the at least one access request comprising a user ID associated with the mobile user device and the indication of the at least one container to be accessed, the user ID being granted permanent or temporary access rights to the at least one hatch connected to the at least one waste container of the waste collection point.

An access control system for controlling access to a waste collection point, wherein the waste collection point comprises at least one waste container and at least one hatch connected to the at least one waste container, and wherein the access control system comprises:

• a memory unit configured to store processor-executable instructions and a database;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to the memory unit,
• wherein the database comprises user IDs that are granted permanent or temporary access rights to the at least one waste container of the waste collection point;
• and
• wherein the processing unit is configured, when executing the processor-executable instructions, to:
• receive at least one access request from a mobile user device, the at least one access request comprising a user ID associated with the mobile user device and an indication of at least one waste container to be accessed among the at least one waste container of the waste collection point,
• determine that the user ID is present in the database and is granted the permanent or temporary access rights to the at least one hatch connected to the at least one waste container to be accessed, and
• send a control signal to the waste collection point, the control signal instructing the waste collection point to unlock or open the at least one hatch connected to the at least one waste container to be accessed.