DeGrado: Household Compost Bin

What it does

This smart compost bin automates food waste composting using sensors, IoT, a custom Bokashi mist spray, heating, and grinding. It solves the problem of landfill overflow by turning kitchen waste into usable compost, side income, and job potential.

Your inspiration

The idea came from seeing how terrace houses, including our own, struggle with daily food waste that usually ends up in landfills. we wanted to create something that could solve this issue at the source—at home. Inspired by smart systems and sustainability, we designed a compost bin that not only automates the composting process but also includes IoT to notify users in real-time. We even created our own custom Bokashi formula, sprayed every few hours to speed up decomposition. Our goal was to turn a household problem into an eco-friendly, tech-driven opportunity for everyone.

How it works

This smart compost bin is designed to turn household food waste into compost automatically. It uses two ultrasonic sensors—one to detect when someone is near and open the lid using a servo motor, and another to monitor how full the bin is. There are also activated carbon filters at the lid for proper air flow and deter pests. Every four hours, a mist spray releases a custom Bokashi fluid that was formulated, which breaks down the waste and control odour. Once the bin is full, the system activates a composting cycle: it first heats the waste for 15 minutes using a heatpad, then grinds it for 30 minutes with a motor-powered blade, followed by another 15 minutes of heating. The full process takes 1 hour. An IoT module sends real-time alerts to a built-in screen and to the user's Telegram, keeping them updated. The compost can then be removed and used in gardens or sold, turning everyday waste into something valuable while reducing what goes into landfills.

Design process

The design process began with a simple idea—to solve the food waste problem in terrace houses using a compact, automated system. Our first prototype was low-budget, built to show the concept only, without physical composting functionality. It helped us understand the workflow, component needs, and system limitations. The latest version is a fully working smart compost bin powered by a wall plug and equipped with two HC-SR04 sensors—one detects human presence to open the lid via a servo, and the other monitors waste level to trigger automation. Every four hours, a mist system sprays our own custom Bokashi fluid, enhanced with organic ingredients we carefully formulated, to reduce odour and speed up fermentation. When full, the bin begins a 1-hour composting cycle: 15 minutes of heating, 30 minutes of grinding, and another 15 minutes of heating to ensure thorough breakdown. An IoT module sends real-time updates to a display screen and to the user’s Telegram account, offering remote monitoring and ease of use. This upgraded system now operates with minimal effort, producing compost that can be used at home or sold—turning daily waste into income and green job opportunities for the future.

How it is different

What makes this smart compost bin different is its fully automated system designed specifically for terrace house living. Unlike typical compost bins that require manual mixing, long composting times, or constant monitoring, this bin handles everything from start to finish. It features dual HC-SR04 sensors—one for human presence and one for bin fullness—allowing it to open the lid automatically and begin composting when needed. It includes a mist spray system that applies a custom-made Bokashi formula every four hours, enhancing decomposition and reducing odors. Once full, it runs a complete 1-hour cycle: heating for 15 minutes, grinding for 30, and heating again for 15 minutes. Real-time status updates are sent via a built-in screen and Telegram through IoT, allowing remote monitoring. The compost produced can be used in gardens or sold making it not just a waste solution, but a small business opportunity too.

Future plans

In the future, we plan to enhance the compost bin by making it more compact, adding a compost level indicator, and integrating AI to detect different types of food waste for more efficient processing. We also want to develop a mobile app to give users more control and data. On the business side, we aim to scale up production, collaborate with local councils, compost buyers, and eco-based startups, and eventually commercialise it as an affordable and eco-friendly household product. Our goal is to reduce landfill waste at the source, create new green job opportunities, and help families turn daily food waste into something profitable.

Awards

Our smart compost bin won 8th place in the Dyson Award competition held at UTM Johor, where over 60 teams participated. The recognition highlighted our project's innovation, practicality, and impact in addressing household food waste through smart automation.