Date of date submission:

26/04/2024
Subject:Exploration Project
Subject code: PC122
Mentor: Anish Mathuria

Waste Segregator (Group 55)

Group Members;

Siva Suhas Thatavarthy 202301050

Ninama Mitwa Dineshkumar 202301162
Siddhant Shekhar 202301268
Mori Nilesh Badhabhai 202301473
Modi Gautam Kirankumar 202301214
Introduction:
In the age of increasing environmental concerns, the need for innovative solutions to tackle
waste management has become paramount. Before considering better ways to dispose of
waste, proper segregation is essential. Poor segregation not only increases environmental
pollution and health risks but also exacerbates landfill usage and resource wastage, leading
to higher financial costs for municipalities. To address these challenges, collaborative efforts
towards improved waste management are imperative. This project aims to tackle the
fundamental issue of waste segregation, particularly sorting Metal, wet, plastic and other
waste; using inductive proximity sensor (for metal), soil moisture sensor (for wet waste)
and optical sensor (for plastic and other type o waste) powered by the microcontroller
Arduino Uno.

Motivation:
Following the announcement of the project and its objectives, our first task was to identify a
pressing issue that demanded a viable solution—one that we could effectively address with
our skills and knowledge. Our search led us to an eye-opening article -

https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/waste/global-waste-problem

underscoring the immense challenge posed by global waste management.

When we talk about India’s waste management system, the challenge is about Sorting recyclable
materials, as only about 30% of waste is properly sorted, leading valuable materials like Aluminum
and plastics to end up in landfills instead of being recycled. Manually managing solid waste can
be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient, particularly in areas with high volumes of
waste. This can lead to increased costs, longer wait times for waste collection, and lower
productivity for waste management services.

Handling waste manually can expose workers to a range of health and safety risks, such as
cuts, bruises, strains, and respiratory problems. The risks are particularly high for workers
handling hazardous waste or waste that is sharp, heavy, or contains chemicals. Apart from
that, in our college campus, not everyone throws dry and wet waste in specific dustbins. Garbage
collector workers face problems on a daily basis to differentiate dry and wet waste. And it can lead to
serious health concerns like respiratory problems, infectious diseases etc.

As individuals, we've all encountered instances of poor waste segregation in our

communities, prompting fleeting attempts at improvement. However, we realized the gravity
of the situation and the need for a more concerted effort to combat it. This realization
fueled our determination to contribute meaningfully to this domain.

Our research journey led us to explore various methods of waste segregation, including
thermal, optical, inductive and moisture sensors. Drawing insights and guidance from our
mentor, we refined our ideas and solidified our approach. We extend our heartfelt gratitude
to the college management for providing us with the opportunity to explore new horizons
and undertake impactful projects.

In tackling waste segregation, we aim not only to address a pressing environmental concern
but also to inspire others to take action in their communities. Together, we can make a
tangible difference in creating a cleaner, more sustainable world for generations to come.

BLOCK DIAGRAMS:

Description of collection block:

PROPOSED SOLUTION:
SMART WASTE SEGREGATOR DUSTBIN: -
❖Structure and Working of the Smart Dustbin: -
We have decided to create a Smart Dustbin which segregates
waste into metal, wet, plastic and other waste by itself.
● Outer Structure: -We will use a big cardboard box as the
outer structure of the dustbin and make 2 partitions using
cardboard in it such that the box is divided into four equal
parts. We will then attach a Servo motor right in between the
first flipper which is partitioned in two compartments;
metal-wet and plastic-other waste. Similarly to the second and
third flipper which partitions metal and wet; plastic and other
waste. The cardboard as the lid of the dustbin which will have
dual functions:
1. Act as a cover for the dustbin
2. Work like a flipper for the dustbin (Servo motor will come to
our help for this function)

Thus, now our Outer Structure of the Dustbin has been

formed.

● Use of Ultrasonic Sensor: -Ultrasonic Sensor shall be attached to the

wall of the box. The Ultrasonic sensor will be used to detect if any object
as waste is placed on the surface of the lid or not.

● Use of inductive proximity sensor: - We will now attach an inductive

proximity sensor inside the dustbin's side wall . It will detect the
metallic property of the waste . Based on this criteria the Servo motor
attached to the lid will lead the lid to flip the waste into the right side of
the flipper and then right side of the second flipper.

1. Detection of Metallic Properties: The inductive proximity

sensor employs electromagnetic fields to detect metallic
objects within its sensing range. When a metallic object
enters the sensor's field, it disrupts the electromagnetic field,
causing a change in inductance. This change is detected by
the sensor's circuitry, signaling the presence of the metal
object.
 2. Triggering Segregation Process: Upon detecting a metallic
object, the inductive proximity sensor sends this data to the
microcontroller (Arduino). The microcontroller then initiates
the segregation process by activating the servo motor to flip
the waste into the designated compartment for metallic
waste.

● Use of optical sensor: - This sensor is only for plastic and other waste
detection. When inductive proximity and soil moisture sensors detect
the waste as neither metal nor wet waste, optical sensor comes in the
picture to detect plastic waste.
1. Image capturation: It can capture images of waste items
placed in front of it.The captured images contain visual
features that can be used for waste classification.
2. Inference with CNNs: CNNs are particularly effective at
automatically learning and extracting relevant features from
images, such as edges, textures, and patterns. A CNN model is
trained using a dataset of labeled images. Each image is associated
with a specific class (e.g., "plastic waste" or "non-plastic waste").
3. Waste Segregation:Then it predicts the most likely class or
category for each waste item. If the CNN predicts that a waste
item is plastic, the corresponding compartment of the waste
segregator is opened to collect the plastic waste.

● Use of Soil Sensor: - We will now attach a soil sensor right in the middle
of the flipper. The soil sensor will detect the moisture content of the
waste. Based on this criteria the Servo motor attached to the lid will lead
it to flip the waste into the wet and dry region of the dustbin.

the Soil Sensor contributes to the functionality of the system in the following
manner:
1. Moisture Detection: The soil sensor utilizes probes or electrodes to
measure the electrical conductivity or resistance of the material placed
on its surface. This measurement is correlated with the moisture content
of the waste item.
2. Classification of Waste: Based on the moisture content detected by the
soil sensor, the smart dustbin system can classify waste items as either
dry or wet. This classification is essential for determining how the waste
should be segregated within the dustbin.
3. Triggering Segregation Process: Once the moisture content of a waste
item is determined by the soil sensor, this information is sent to the
microcontroller. The microcontroller then uses this data to initiate the
segregation process by activating the servo motor to flip the waste into
the appropriate dry or wet section of the dustbin.
4. Accurate Segregation: By detecting the moisture content of waste items,
the soil sensor ensures that waste segregation is performed accurately
and efficiently. This helps optimize waste management practices and
promotes environmentally friendly disposal methods.

● Use of Raspberry Pi Microcontroller: -Perhaps the most important

role in the working of the entire dustbin and the element which makes a
regular dustbin smart is the Raspberry Pi microcontroller. It plays a
central role in coordinating the various components and functionalities
of the smart dustbin system. Here's how it can be used:
1. Data Processing: It processes data received from sensors, such as the soil
sensor, IR sensor, Inductive proximity sensor and optical sensor to make
decisions regarding waste segregation and other system operations.
2. Decision Making: Based on the input from sensors, the microcontroller
determines whether the waste item should be classified as either metal
or wet or plastic or other waste and sends commands to the servo motor
accordingly to initiate the segregation process.
3. Control of Actuators: It controls the operation of actuators, such as the
servo motor responsible for flipping the waste into the appropriate
sections of the dustbin.
4. Communication: It facilitates communication between various
components of the system, ensuring seamless interaction between
sensors, and other peripherals.
 ● Working of the Dustbin: - The user throws the trash in the dustbin, The
IR Sensor detects whether an object has been placed or not. Then the
inductive sensor will detect whether the waste is metallic or
not.Simillarly, soil sensor and optical sensor work. Based on contents the
sensors shall accordingly relay the information to the Raspberry Pi
microcontroller and then it will send the signal to the Servo motor. The
motor shall then flip the waste put on the lid into the wet or the dry
section of the dustbin accordingly.

BENEFITS OF THE WASTE SEGREGATION:

Wet Waste: As we segregate biodegradable waste, it can be used in biogas plant to
And it can be used to fuel
produce environment-friendly renewable energy.
vehicles, heat our homes and to generate electricity.
Plastic: Segregated plastic can be recycled. Recycling plastic requires
less energy than producing new plastic products by melting and reusing plastic
bottles, bags, or containers. It takes less energy to make recycled plastic than to
create new plastic. As a result, recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
1. Conservation of Natural Resources:

One of the most significant environmental benefits of metal scrap recycllingis the conservation of
natural resources. India is a resource-rich country, but the excessive extraction of metals and
minerals for industrial and construction purposes places tremendous pressure on the
environment. By recycling metal scrap, the demand for primary resources such as iron ore,
aluminium, and copper is reduced, leading to less habitat destruction and ecosystem disruption.
This helps in conserving the country’s valuable natural resources for future generations.

TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT:

Sr.No. Tasks Tentative Dates
1. Procurement of parts for the project 1st August-14th August

2. Making the smart dustbin and completing 20th August-30th

all hardware related things September

3. Completing the software part i.e., make the 1st October-15th

dustbin functional October

4. Minor improvisations and buffer time 16th October-15th

November

LIST OF COMPONENTS AND THEIR COST:-

NAME QUANTITY UNIT COST NET COST

Raspberry Pi 1 ₹2,300 ₹2,300
Zero W
Servo 90 3 ₹90 ₹270
Soil moisture 1 ₹40 ₹40
sensor
Nut bolts few ₹100 ₹100
IR sensor 1 ₹30 ₹30
Wires few ₹100 ₹100
Zip ties few ₹59 ₹59
 Indicators 5 ₹50 ₹50

Inductive 1 ₹200 ₹200

proximity
sensor
Optical sensor 1 ₹530 ₹530
camera module
Battery few ₹500 ₹500
Breadboard 1 ₹90 ₹90
Cardboards few ₹200 ₹200
Glue 1 ₹90 ₹90

TOTAL COST: ₹4,559

Note: The cost given here is based on the prices found online as of April 2024 and may
change when the components are ordered. These prices may be at the upper end of the price
range for individual components. We might be able to procure them for a slightly cheaper
price based on the place we procure these components from.

REFERENCES:
https://www.nextias.com/blog/waste-management-in-india/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Bi
ggest%20Problem,landfills%20instead%20of%20being%20recycled.
https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/waste/global-waste-problem
https://www.kanakkupillai.com/learn/environmental-and-economic-benefits-of-metal-scrap-re
cycling-in-india/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20significant,tremendous%20pressure
%20on%20the%20environment.

https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/farzadnekouei/trash-type-image-dataset
https://youtu.be/PCfQb3gVtbE?feature=shared