WasteWise

What it does

WasteWise is an automated smart bin system that uses sensors and a linear actuator to detect and sort metal, plastic, and glass waste in real time, reducing recycling contamination and improving waste management efficiency in shopping malls.

Your inspiration

The inspiration for WasteWise came from observing the frequent misuse of recycling bins in shopping malls, where waste is often thrown into the wrong bin or left unsorted. This leads to high contamination rates and inefficient recycling. Our team wanted to address this issue by creating an intuitive, sensor-based system that reduces human error and promotes responsible waste disposal. By automating the sorting process, we aim to make recycling more effective and convenient in public spaces.

How it works

WasteWise is a smart bin system that automatically sorts waste into metal, plastic, or glass categories using sensors and controlled movements. When an item is inserted, an IR sensor detects its presence. Then, inductive and capacitive sensors identify the material type which metal items trigger the inductive sensor, plastic is detected by the capacitive sensor, and glass is identified through a combination of sensor responses. A linear actuator then moves a gatebox horizontally to align with the correct bin. A servo motor opens the bottom flap of the gatebox to release the item into the appropriate bin. The system then resets to the center position, ready for the next item. This automated process helps ensure accurate sorting with minimal user effort.

Design process

Our design process began with identifying the key problem which is improper waste segregation in public spaces, especially shopping malls. We brainstormed multiple ideas and selected the most feasible one based on criteria like accuracy, cost, ease of use, and maintenance. Our first concept was a conveyor-based system, but it was too bulky for mall settings. We refined the idea into a compact bin system using a gatebox and linear actuator for horizontal movement. The first prototype used basic sensors and manual activation, but it faced issues in material detection accuracy. We improved it by integrating an IR sensor to detect waste presence, an inductive sensor for metal, and a capacitive sensor for plastic. By analyzing sensor combinations, we also identified glass items more reliably. We added a linear actuator to move the gatebox left or right based on detected material. A servo motor was included to release waste into the correct bin. Further refinements involved improving timing, stability, and power management using voltage regulators. Through testing, we optimized sensor positions and motion control for smoother operation, achieving more consistent sorting.

How it is different

WasteWise stands out from other waste sorting systems by offering a compact, fully automated solution specifically designed for indoor public spaces like shopping malls. Unlike traditional smart bins that rely heavily on image recognition or manual sorting, WasteWise uses a combination of inductive, capacitive, and IR sensors to detect and sort metal, plastic, and glass in real time without requiring user input or internet connectivity. Its unique gatebox design, moved by a linear actuator, allows horizontal sorting into three separate bins using only one servo motor for waste release. This minimizes mechanical complexity while maintaining high sorting accuracy. WasteWise is also cost-effective, easy to install, and doesn’t rely on bulky conveyor systems or AI cameras, making it more practical for widespread adoption in indoor environments.

Future plans

Our next steps for WasteWise include enhancing the system’s accuracy by integrating additional sensors and exploring AI-based material recognition for more complex waste types. We plan to develop an IoT dashboard for real-time monitoring and data analytics, allowing facility managers to track waste volumes and bin status remotely. In the future, we aim to scale the system for larger public spaces like airports, campuses, and parks. We hope to make the design more modular and user-friendly for easier maintenance and customization. Ultimately, we aim to contribute to smarter, cleaner cities through efficient and accessible waste management.

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