Rapid industrialization in India, along with the rest of the world, has resulted in an equally rapid increase in waste. Improper disposal poses environmental and public health risks. Places with high populations, such as educational institutions and residential areas, have too much waste and little education to allow for proper sorting and disposal, resulting in waste littering the ground and continued pollution of the environment.
To combat this issue, a group of students at the Madras Section from Sri Sai Ram Engineering College IEEE Student Branch collaborated with Vidhai Vidhaipom in Chennai, India have created a credit-based smart garbage disposal bin.
This device sorts basic waste, which includes biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. It also provides credit to those who are properly disposing of their waste, using RFID cards. Users can scan their cards and get credit for the waste they dispose of.
The bin has a lid that opens automatically, which ensures hygienic disposal of waste. When waste is thrown in the bin, it detects the weight, and a picture is taken of the waste, and sensors properly sort it. Each disposal gives 5 credits, all of which go through an application.
The device uses solar power, making them even more sustainable. To ensure proper function, regular maintenance checks occur.
This project was made possible by a $4,443 grant by EPICS in IEEE.