Recycle Nation An Environmental Improvement Program for Incentive Based Recycling

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Recycle NationAn Environmental Improvement
Program for Incentive Based Recycling


envisioned by The Trash Masters Zach Leatherman,
Travis Stubbendeck, Tom Yarmer
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Problem

• Every day consumers like these just dont
  recycle.

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Problem

• 50 of people in communities with curbside
  recycling utilize the service.
• Of this half, only 33 of their recyclable
  materials are actually recycled.

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Project Description

• We need to improve modern day recycling systems.
• Incentive Program
• Monetary returns for good recycling habits.
• Mobile Preliminary Sorting

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Modern Day Recycling

• Dual-stream recycling method
• Consumers sort recyclables into two bins.
• Paper Based
• Containers
• Single-stream recycling method
• Singular bin for all recyclable materials.

continued on next slide
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Modern Day Recycling

• PAYT Pay as you Throw
• Consumers pay for each unit of garbage they
  throw away.
• Paired with unlimited free recycling.
• Drawbacks
• Consumers may be finding other ways to dispose of
  their garbage.
• Ditch Throwing
• Dumpsters (Apartment Complexes, Places of
  Business)

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Project Vision

• Combination and Altercation
• Single-stream method paired with an inverse Pay
  as you Throw system.
• Utilize sensor technology to weigh the amount
  consumers recycle.
• Reduction in monthly garbage bill the more they
  recycle.
• Remove drawbacks from PAYT program.
• Rough Sorting allows for measurement of different
  types of recyclables.

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Research

• Trash Can Identification
• Recycling Incentive Programs
• Sorting Methods
• EBox Capabilities
• Weight Sensor (Cost/Robustness/Accuracy)
• Wireless Communication Method
• Database Software
• Software Interface

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Life Cycle Design and Methodology
Spiral Life Cycle Model

• Modularize Project
• Project breaks down into 4 smaller parts or
  modules
• Involves iterations of prototypes, focusing on
  larger risks first.

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Project Modules

• Radio Frequency Identification System
• Weight Sensors integrated into Ebox
• Software Interface, database and wireless
  communication to base station
• Mobile preliminary vehicular sorting of
  recyclable materials

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RFID Module

• Tag Placement
• Lifting Mechanism
• Weather Effects (Snow, Rain, Ice)
• Interfacing with Ebox

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Weight Sensors

• Sensor Type
• Interface Type
• Incorporation into Incentive System
• How weight is associated with the value of
  recyclable materials
• Complications with consumer dishonesty

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Software Interface

• Building CE image to be compatible with input
  from RFID, weight sensors and wireless bridge.
• Create database to store customer data and update
  upon garbage pickup or upload to base station.
• Wireless transfer from Ebox to base station using
  wireless bridge.

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Mobile Recycling Presort

• May be the most challenging part of project
• Must operate while vehicle is in motion
• Will attempt to separate ferrous and non-ferrous
  metal materials
• Conveyer belt type system

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Eddy Currents

• Eddy Currents (Flash)
• The above link goes to a web page that gives a
  good flash animation demonstrating the use of
  eddy currents.

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SystemOverview
Weight Sensor
Happy consumer
Ebox (Local Storage) and Wireless Bridge
Server (Central Storage)
RFID tagged receptacles
RFID Reader
Mobile Vehicle
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SortingOverview(IdealCase)
Metallic Aluminum
Recycling Facility
Metallic Non-Aluminum
Recyclable Materials
Non-Metallic
Mobile Vehicle
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Results

Happier Consumer
Happier Planet Earth
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Schedule

• Part Hopeful date of Completion
• RFID Module March 3rd
• Weight Sensor Module March 12th
• Software Interface March 17th
• Sorting Module March 29th
• Integration and Testing April 10th

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Team Organization

• Tom, Zach and Travis each have individual
  strengths within the team
• Tom communicates ideas well and is good at
  looking at the whole picture and defining what
  are project should do
• Zach has a lot of experience with software and
  database design and working with Platform builder
  and the Ebox
• Travis is experienced when it comes to hardware
  design and has a good handle on what we can
  complete given our time frame

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Future Work

• Collection Vehicle
• Magnetic platform to separate ferrous materials.
• Weight sensors to weigh recyclables.
• Utilize eddy currents to remove aluminum.
• Base Station
• SQL Server setup with RFID tags for each address.
• Wireless router connection from eBox to Base
  Station

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Future Work

• E-Box and Software
• Windows CE Kernel
• Allow for RFID input.
• Allow for weigh sensor input.
• Allow for wireless communication from eBox to
  Base Station.
• Program to read data from the weight sensor.
• Website to allow customers to check data on
  their own recycling habits.