Often, people are careless to place trash in the correct recycling category. Bins constantly overflow, with no proper way of knowing when. Poorly sorted trash also makes collection more difficult for workers and increases risks of injury from items like broken glass.

Our WiseWaste bin addresses these crucial problems by automatically sorting trash into categories while being more affordable than high-tech competitors, simplifying sorting for those at recycling centers and helping them and property owners know when they need collecting through tracking could improve cleanliness and safety at public areas as well as at home.

Research

For this project, we consulted two experts, one employee from a center that is part of a public park and recreation system, and the other an experienced trash collector. Liran Roditi who has over a year of experience working long hours in the trash pickup industry shared to us how poorly sorted or organized trash makes collection more difficult. He agreed with the idea of having an auto-sorting system and how it could expedite the process. In addition, he told us how improper sorting can also create safety hazards, such as broken glass poking through bags, which can cause injuries. Moreover, Lauren Gralingson, representing the Children’s Science Explorium in Boca, Florida a public park and recreation facility, explained that incorrectly sorted trash is a large problem with their customers. The facility had even tried putting a recycling initiative in place, however it failed due to no one applying enough effort. Lauren also shared how although signs and labels are posted, they have not been effective, as most visitors tend to ignore them. She explained that built-in sorting bins would greatly help to improve cleanliness of the facility. Gralingson also noted that the facility does not track how full bins get, as maintenance empties them as needed. She agreed that tracking bin levels could help prevent overflow instead of relying on visual checks or visitor complaints.

The best existing product is the Smart Bin by Ameru, which includes a high-tech sorting system powered by AI.  It automatically identifies and sorts waste into the correct categories, with over 95% accuracy. It’s limitation, however, is the price. Most people will not be willing to drop around $4,000 on a trash bin, which is the rough estimate for an Ameru bin. In comparison, our idea improves upon this bin by having a more reasonable price; WiseWaste is highly advanced for it’s price. People are more likely to purchase more affordable options, even if it consists of slight variations.