The rapid urbanization and population growth in cities worldwide have intensified the challenges of municipal solid waste management. Traditional waste collection methods are often inefficient, leading to overflowing bins, increased operational costs, and environmental hazards. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and sensor networks offers a transformative approach to smart waste management, enabling real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and optimized collection processes. This paper presents the design of an IoT-based smart waste management system utilizing sensor networks, discusses its architecture, core components, implementation strategies, benefits, and challenges, and reviews recent advancements and case studies in the field.