Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem,

significance of the study, hypothesis, scope and delimitations of the study and the

definition of terms.

INTRODUCTION

Inside and outside our home, at even along the streets, trash can be found

everywhere, as if it is like people ignore the importance of maintaining proper

segregation. This problem is now becoming more alarming due to the increasing

amount of waste on our environment every year either on land or in water. Most

of our waste is plastic that lasts for up to 1000 years. According to the study of

scientists, even though there are so many trash bins around if people don't care

about the environment and the trash signs, it just won’t do. Therefore, an early

remedy is a solution to our problem and it is not too late. There is still a solution

through proper waste segregation, but it is difficult to do because many people

ignore its importance. Technology can be helpful and give us a hand, for it can

lessen the work and effort of manual segregation and most of all supervise the

segregation of waste materials. Automated segregation is the scope of the

proposed “Automatic Trash Separator Bin”. Another way of separating waste is

reported to work with an indirect sorting process using an optical sensor which

detects the particles sizes and positions, colors and shapes and a mechanical

separating system consisting of compressed air controlled by computer.

Nowadays, trash has become a problem in the society and ecosystem due to the

way people get rid of it, so what is the difference between having many trash signs on the

bins and having one trash bin only? the reality kicks in, as some or most of the houses

and even hospitals and stores, no matter how much or less their trash bin, it still makes

no different. Nowadays, people are not paying attention to the posters around them. Most

of the garbage is buried or burnt or even kept in places to which it does not belong. In

today’s generation, everyone is very busy doing things of sort, that even though there are

much trash bins having the sign of a bio and non- biodegradable they still throw it mixed

up making the work tougher moreover, even the recyclable materials being contaminated

making the materials non-recyclable. Hence, trashes are just thrown to land fill including

those recyclable materials and most of all the plastics which decompose with over a

thousand years making it very harmful to the environment. In addition, even though they

are thrown in land mass, which creates soil and air pollution, most of them are being

carried by the current of rain water to the vast ocean where sea creatures thought of it as

food, which leads to extinction of sea creatures. With the use of an automated trash bin,

things will begin to change because it has the ability to separate mixed junks even when

people throw their trash mixed up. The bin will separate those trash for them lessening

those plastic and waste we throw away because most of all the waste we produce are

solid waste according to a group of environmentalists 35, 580 tons of garbage is generated

every day in the Philippines, 95% of which are solid waste which can be reused and 43%

can still be recycled and 52% can be turned into compost.

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Statement of the Problems

This section states the problems that are to be answered by the proponents of the

proposed study.

The following are questions sought to answer by the proponents:

1. What is the Demographic profile of the respondents in terms of the following;

1.1 Age;

1.2 Gender;

1.3 Occupation; and

1.4 Place of work?

2. What are the problems encountered in the existing system?

3. What are the advantages of using the proposed system?

4. What are the common garbage found in your work?

5. How do the respondents evaluate the existing and proposed system are based

on the following criteria;

5.1 Accuracy;

5.2 Efficiency;

5.3 Usability;

5.4 Reliability; and

5.5 Speed?

6. Is there no significant difference between the existing system and the

proposed system?

7.Suggestions

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Hypothesis

If automated trash bins are present already and being used by the community wisely,

the garbage that has become a major problem worldwide due to uncontrolled disposal of

household waste from citizen’s home and industries will be lessening and from year to

year those plastic waste in the ocean will be eliminated and thus making the environment

cleaner and safer to live. These are not kind of phenomenon it can be helped by recycling

those that can be recycled from the very start, though there is no such word as “too late”

for the mother Earth people can still fix it. The proposed Automated Trash Separator Bin

will prevent and therefore take control of solid waste, although this is not the first automatic

trash bin in the Philippines, it will make further advancement on waste management.

Although some people still does not care for the environment but there are already many

groups and organizations addressing environmental issues, and they know how

dangerous waste can be.

Significance of the Study

The study aims to provide a new and convenient way of improving the traditional way

of manual separation for the waste which is time consuming and inconvenient for the new

generation, introducing the capacitive sensor for the separation system which have the

ability to identify the plastic, iron and glass, through air capacitance and magnetism while,

optical sensor will also identify the said garbage through pictures, making the separation

easier and most of all convenient to use.

The importance of the study covers the friendliness, efficiency, accuracy, and reliability

of the system to the end users.

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Scope and delimitations of the Study

The study will focus on developing a machine that will help people to separate their

waste easily and convenient without the hustle of separating the plastic, metal and glass.

The user will only need to throw their waste regardless if mixed up or not and the machine

will separate it for them.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework shows the justification of the research problems to provide its

parameter. It is desirable for the researchers to identify key concepts that are used on the

study to fully understand the role and theory of the research.

Figure 1.0

Conceptual Framework of the Study

Independent Variable Intervening Variable Dependent Variable

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Figure 1.0 illustrates the Conceptual Framework of the proponents’ study. It is

composed of independent variables as the input or collection of data from certain people

that use the system, the intervening variable or processes which show the methods on

how data are manipulated to the desired output which leads to the dependent variable

that gives an answer from working the whole system. The dependent variable is based

on the result of the independent variable which can be changed if the process is modified

or the independent variable is altered. Intervening variables can also cause a huge change

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on the dependent variable.

Theoretical Framework of the Study

The Theoretical Framework of the study introduces the difference between the existing

system and the proposed system. The framework shows the process of both the existing

and proposed system.

Figure 1.1
Theoretical Framework of the Existing Study
Input Process Output

Potential users will Users will throw their The waste is mixed
buy trash bin waste regardless if up and therefore
mixed or not contaminating the
recyclables

Figure 1.1 illustrates the Theoretical Framework of the Existing System. In the input, a

person shall be regarded as a User. As they plan to buy a simple trash bin, the process

goes on. He/She will now throw their garbage regardless if mixed up or not. Now the trash

is mixed up contaminating the recyclables which cannot be sold to junk shops and

therefore garbage collectors will take the waste and throw directly to landfills.

Figure 1.2
Theoretical Framework of the Proposed Study
Input Process Output

Users will be User will buy and The bin will

Figure 1.2 illustrates the Theoretical Framework of the proposed System. In the input, the

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user will be introduced to the machine and it’s features. In the process, the user will buy and

install the machine and the user will be introduced to its various other features. Finally, the

bin will automatically separate the waste from metal, plastic and glass to three separate trash

bins.

Definition of Terms

To better understand the study, the following terms are defined:

Accuracy. The quality or state of being correct or precise. The degree to which the

result of a measurement, calculation, or specification conforms to the correct value or a

standard.

Arduino. It is an open-source hardware and software company, project and user

community that designs and manufactures single-board

microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices and interactive objects

that can sense and control objects in the physical and digital world.

Automation. It means the technology by which a process or procedure is performed

with minimal human assistance. Automation or automatic control is the use of

various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in

factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching on telephone networks, steering and

stabilization of ships, aircraft and other applications and vehicles with minimal or reduced

human intervention. Some processes have been completely automated.

Capacitive sensor. It is a proximity sensor that detects nearby objects by their effect

on the electrical field created by the sensor, they have a similarity with the radar in

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detecting objects also it can detect plastic through air capacitance, iron through

magnetism and glass because the electricity given by the sensor will bounce back.

Conveyor. A machine used for transferring items with advantage of easy, cheap, fast

and safe loading and unloading condition and with minimal human interference.

Efficiency. Signifies a level of performance that describes using the least amount of

input to achieve the highest amount of output, also requires reducing the number of

unnecessary resources used to produce a given output including personal time and

energy.

Optical Sensor. are another significant application of optics technology that has been

already studied for 30years in industrial, medical and engineering, converts light rays into

electronic signals. It measures the physical quantity of light and then translates it into a

form that is readable by an instrument

Reliability. The quality of being trust worthy or of performing consistently well, it is also

a degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification can be

depended on to be accurate.

Speed. The measurement of time lapse that one has done the job correctly and

with extra time.

Trash bin. It is a type of a box or something that people can put their waste.

Usability. The degree to which a software can be used by specified consumers to

achieve quantified objects with satisfaction in a quantified context of use.

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 Automatic Trash Separator Bin

By:

Payuran, Jerusalem M.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

For the degree Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

AMA Computer College, Fairview Campus

Quezon City

January 2019