Final Product

 

Evaluation of the Bin

Our waste bin is multifunctional by being able to contain both recycling and trash in the same container. Since trash is disposed of more often, we wanted to create something that would allow for the user to easily choose between trash or recycling. To do this, we took a regular step trash can and modified it to open a panel depending on what the user is disposing of. If the user wants to throw away trash, then there is an open hole for it. But if someone wants to recycle something, the user can press the foot-pedal to expose the recycling port. The opening panel is also curved so in case somebody throw their trash away on the panel, it will eventually fall into the trash.

The design was inspired by the busy environment of sporting events. Often at games, spectators will be in a rush to get where they want to go. With waste, especially, people do not spend a lot of time thinking about what to do with it. Oftentimes, waste will be disposed of in the wrong containers and then the recycling and trash removal processes will become more difficult. This waste bin would ideally be used as the only type of container at a facility and then the waste management crew would not have to spend as much time sorting through improperly sorted garbage.

For this final prototype, a few modifications were implemented. The final design has a much larger waste bin than the previous prototype. The design also comes from an already functioning pedal waste bin with wheels. For the opening panel, our group modified it by cutting it in half and reattaching it to act as the recycling opening panel, instead. The waste bin also contains graphic designs along the sides that differentiate the trash and the recycling ports, display what can be recycled, and tell what the pedal is used for.

To test the final bin, our group decided to use a couple scenarios for what could happen if this waste bin were at a sporting event. We gave a person different articles of garbage and asked them to use the waste bin as they would if they were busy.

Scenario 1

A man is going to the snack bar to get some more food, but has his arms full of used food containers and a bottle.

The man proceeds to use the bin and drops all of his containers in the trash hole and on top of the lid. The garbage on the lid falls into the trash hole. He then notices the green pedal and recycling sign prompting to press the pedal. He presses it to throw away his bottle and then moves on to the snack bar.

• In this instance the bottle did not have liquid in it so it was fine to be recycled, but if there was liquid, the man probably would not have noticed the other sign.

Scenario 2

A woman is leaving the area with a bunch of bottles. Some are empty and some still have liquid in them.

She approaches the trash bin from the side that shows the sign of what can be recycled. She then proceeds to look further at the bin and sees the pedal and the green color. She understands the purpose of the bin and then properly disposes the bottles in the correct ports depending on whether or not the bottles have liquid in them.

• Perhaps if the woman would have approached the waste bin from the other side, she would have assumed that all of the bottles were recyclable and thrown them all within the recycle port.

 

Our group also tested the waste bin’s ability to automatically move trash from the top of the lid into the trash port. We used multiple objects and dropped them from different heights to see how they reacted when they fell on the lid.

Water bottle

• The water bottle fell into the bin regardless of the height from which it was dropped onto the lid.

Palm sized box

• The box remained on the lid if dropped an inch from the lid and a foot from the lid, but anything higher would put the box into the trash can.

Partially eaten candy bar

• The bar would stay on the lid if dropped from an inch to a half foot from the lid on some occasions, but anything higher it would fall into the trash can.

Food container filled with food

• The container will stay on the lid sometimes if dropped about and inch from the lid, but anything higher it will fall into the trash can most of the time.

Empty food container

• The container would usually stay on the lid if dropped an inch to a quarter foot away from the lid, but anything higher will have it most often fall into the trash.

With these results, our trash can was able to move the garbage into the trash under most circumstances unless the garbage was lightly placed on top of the lid. Under the circumstances of a sporting event, the garbage would usually be dropped from a high distance with force. It would be usually be quick movement. The trash can would be more effective if it were larger to hold more garbage and provide a larger area for people to throw their trash away without error. Issues may arise with the current lid design if the lid got too large (may become difficult to open or slow to close).

Overall, the waste bin is able to accomplish our group goals of providing a quick and easy means of disposing waste. The design could use some improvements in order to work at a sporting event. Improvements include: larger bin capacity, color coordination with facilities, and a lid with a more slippery design. The first two improvements could vary depending on where the waste bin is being used. The third improvement could have been possible if our group had a means of acquiring more slippery materials for an affordable cost. A bin of this design may be usable for a general campus/public use case, but for the sake of the prototype, the group was able to create a design that fulfilled its function without being expensive.