The idea of this speculative design project is to help users manage and track their waste (trash) disposal.

Often times people walk to their trash and discovered it is full or about to be and there is little or no space to drop the trash they are about to dispose of. This sometimes ends in a situation where they are dropped on the floor. Furthermore, some users have the challenge of identifying how to dispose of certain types of trash that they have in their possession.

MY ROLE

Strategy
Planning
Design + Execution
Research

PLATFORMS

Mobile

YEAR

2020

Below is the video to demonstrate how the application works and how it will be beneficial to our everyday life.

SOLUTION

The solution I am proposing is a smart bin equipped with sensors. These sensors will send a notification to the user’s mobile device when the bin is full, ensuring the user knows exactly when it’s time to dispose of the trash. Additionally, the smart bin will provide detailed information on the types of garbage being disposed of regularly, helping users track and manage their waste more effectively. This technology not only improves convenience by alerting users when the bin needs emptying but also promotes better waste management practices by offering insights into the composition of their trash. Through this innovative approach, users can stay informed and make more environmentally conscious decisions.

RESEARCH ON WASTE

Wastepaper & Cardboard: Every tonne of recycled paper or cardboard can save up to 17 trees. 70% less energy is used when making new paper from recycled stock than when using virgin pulp.
Plastic Recycling: Most types of plastic are recyclable, so recycling them is essential to reduce landfill waste and prevent garbage from ending up in the oceans.
Metal Recycling: All grades of non-ferrous metal are recyclable for future use. To understand the energy savings, recycling just one aluminum drinks can save enough energy to power a television for about three hours!
WEEE Recycling (Electronic Devices):WEEE recycling involves the recycling of waste from electric and electronic equipment, including nearly anything powered by a battery or plug, such as computers, mobile phones, and TVs. This specialized sector of the waste and recycling industry aims to prevent electronic items from being sent to landfill.
Wood Recycling: Wood is the ultimate renewable material because of its number of different uses. Wood can be used as a building material, recycled into much for landscaping and even low-grade wood is useful because it can be used for fuel to generate environmentally friendly energy.
Glass Recycling: Glass can take around one million years to fully decompose, which is a big issue for landfill sites getting too full. Glass is 100% recyclable and never loses any purity or quality when it’s recycled.
Clothing & Textile: With the rise of fast-fashion in recent years, we are buying more clothes than ever and therefore we have more waste textiles than ever

THE APPROACH

Methods
Since the advent of QR codes designers have looked for approach to infuse that into their product design. This technology as be used in payment services and also in Shanghai scan codes have been put on trash bags to check for the source of each trash and content.
Hence, this led to the development of the Smart Bin a mobile application that notifies users of the level of their trash and educates them about methods of disposing of waste as well as nearby locations of recycling centers