SegreGREATor

The Project

SegreGREATor is an innovative machine that automatically segregates wet and dry waste, enhancing efficiency and safety in waste management. It quickly moves the waste to the correct bin in less than a second using an ultrasonic sensor that activates only when something is detected. The machine is user-friendly, featuring easy operation and an LED indicator to show it is working. Portable and lightweight, SegreGREATor can be easily transported. It is eco-friendly, made entirely from cardboard and paper, avoiding plastic use. Designed to be learner-friendly, the prototype exposes its electronics to help users understand its operation and inspire further innovations.

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Team Comments

We made this because my teammate Hridan has a personal connection to a garbage collector who struggles with manual waste separation. We frequently hear the staff complain about the daily challenges of sorting mixed waste carelessly thrown. This inspired us to create a solution to ease their burden.

We found our incomplete knowledge of C++ to be a major difficulty. We tackled this by experimenting with different code variations, persistently refining our approach until all ideas were successfully executed. This trial-and-error method helped us overcome our coding challenges and complete this.

If I had more time, I would add solar panels and make the device chargeable. I would enhance it to segregate mixed waste, like wet waste in polythene bags. I’d replace the soil moisture sensor with a non-contact sensor and add an auto-cleaning system to prevent sensor confusion from wet surfaces.