Vancouver high school students create intelligent garbage cans to help sort waste
Two innovative Vancouver high school students, Amy Bach and Sunny Huynh, have developed a groundbreaking solution to help their peers divert more waste from landfills. Their creation, called Bin Genius, combines odour sensors and artificial intelligence to revolutionize waste sorting habits in schools.
The inspiration behind Bin Genius stemmed from Bach and Huynh witnessing their fellow students mindlessly throwing all their lunch waste into the garbage bin, destined for the landfill. Determined to make a difference, the Grade 12 student from Gladstone Secondary School and Grade 11 student from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School set out to educate and empower their peers to improve their waste sorting habits.
Bin Genius utilizes a combination of sensors, cameras, and a user-friendly app to alert users if items are incorrectly disposed of. For example, the system can notify students if an orange peel belongs in the compost or if a drink container should be recycled instead of thrown in the garbage. Through extensive training using 5,000 images, the AI-powered technology can accurately recognize different types of trash.
The issue of organic waste filling up Metro Vancouver’s landfills has long been a challenge for the region. Recent waste composition studies have revealed that nearly one quarter of collected waste is compostable organics. Despite Metro Vancouver’s goal to recycle 80% of the region’s waste, the current recycling rate hovers around 65%.
Sarah Kirby-Yung, chair of the Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Committee, emphasized the importance of finding innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste production per person. She commended Bach and Huynh for their forward-thinking approach in utilizing technology and AI to improve waste sorting practices.
Bach and Huynh have entered Bin Genius into a Science Fair Foundation competition, where they could win a $5,000 prize. They are determined to further develop their invention and hope to eventually implement it in all 89 elementary and 18 secondary schools in the Vancouver school district. The estimated cost of implementation is $100,000, with the goal of creating a sustainable solution for future generations.
The dedication and ingenuity of these two high school students serve as a beacon of hope for a more sustainable future. Through their innovative creation, Bin Genius, Bach and Huynh are paving the way for a more eco-conscious and waste-diverting society.
