copy pasted from our original Google Sites site. For that, please visit https://sites.google.com/ehillel.org/wisewaste.

The site and this page may include outdated information.

Why we chose this problem:

Often, people are careless to place trash in the correct category, or it may be confusing for people to figure out which bin to place the item in. Most bins carry the problem of constant overflowing and features making it difficult to track the fullness. In addition,  according to Bucell Technologies, improperly disposed waste can block drains and storm sewers, leading to much larger environmental problems. Poorly sorted trash also makes collection more difficult for workers and increases risks of injury from items like broken glass; solutions such as these that simplify sorting and tracking could improve cleanliness and safety at public areas as well as at home. Our WiseWaste bin addresses these crucial problems by automatically sorting trash into categories while being more affordable than high-tech competitors.

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. 

Bibliography:

“Impacts of Mismanaged Trash.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 30 July 2020, 

19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/impacts-mismanaged-trash_.html.

“The Importance of Solid Waste Management in Urban Areas.” Burcell Technologies, 31 January 2025,

     https://burcellteam.com/articles/the-importance-of-   solid- waste-management-in-urban-areas/

Empathize

The target users for our smart trash-sorting project are public visitors, families, maintenance staff, and trash collectors who deal with waste every day. Through direct observation in parks, schools, and office buildings, we noticed that children often struggle to identify the correct bins, sometimes placing recyclables in trash bins out of confusion or distraction, while adults occasionally ignore sorting instructions when in a hurry. In some places, contamination is so common, their initiatives were eventually stopped; this is why having an auto-sorting machine will benefit both civilians and facilities. In addition, poorly sorted trash slows down some people’s work, causes safety hazards like broken glass in bags, and can even lead to entire loads being rejected. In addition, kids and adults who struggle with knowing where to place trash or who simply do not care for placing it correctly will. These problems affect efficiency, safety, cleanliness, and environmental efforts. They have an impact on people and the surrounding environment. Our proposed solution is a smart trash can that automatically identifies items using an AI camera, directs them into the correct compartment, monitors fullness with weight and distance sensors, and even seals bags for easy pickup. By understanding the real frustrations of both users and workers, we are creating a system that makes proper sorting simple, automatic, and safer for everyone.

We asked the public whether they would actually use a trash can that sorts for them, we received overwhelmingly positive results. With 95.8% of people saying that they would use one. This shows that there is already existing demand for our product, emphasizing how important our project would be in daily life.

Moreover, we asked the respondents if they find lots of trash in their surroundings and  more than half of our respondents answered that they do. This shows how littering is a real problem for many people, and that there is a real problem that can be solved by our product.

People were also asked if is is difficult for them to figure out what type of bin to organize their trash into. By a majority (58.3%) responding that it is hard for them to asses which bin to place their trash into, it supports that a an automatucally sorting trash bin can be very effective. 

Define

The Driving Question

How can we automate recycling to reduce human error and improve ease of use?

Purpose  

The purpose of this project is to create more efficient and effortless trash sorting system. The bin will support those who struggle with sorting items correctly and those who are affected by the outcome of unorganized trash. By having an auto-sorting machine, all problems including confusion, carelessness, overflowing, environmental consequences, injuries, efficiency, and more. 

Thesis Statement 

Unorganized trash is due to human causes such as lack of care and confusion reguading organizing items into correct trash bins.  

System Diagram