PROJECT BIN

Project Bin
is an initiative which aims to use AI cameras, data analysis and behavioural economics to cultivate waste-reducing habits. At the centre of this project is our humanitarian concern for excessive food waste. The inspiration behind this project was seeded during our routine service at the Willing Hearts soup kitchen. There, we saw the hidden food inequality in Singapore—a home we thought to be healthy and full. Peeling potatoes and chopping carrots, we meticulously valued and used every ingredient to its fullest, as each gram wasted was a gram of nutrients taken away from those who need it. But away from the lines of people waiting for styrofoam food boxes, the scene we see is drastically different: plates of uneaten dishes fill up enormous bins every mealtime in cafeterias, hawkers, and restaurants. This pernicious problem of food waste causes harm to all aspects of society, from creating toxic pollution to exacerbating food insecurity and worsening inequality. Currently, food waste goes out of sight, out of mind: there is no easy way to classify and analyse what we actually throw away. To tackle this issue, we use AI cameras to quantify and classify the food being wasted. With the data collected, we can identify the patterns and root causes of wastage. Then, together with suppliers, we act on the results by implementing solutions, such as adjustments to recipes and plate sizes. We hope to propagate this system across Singapore and Southeast Asia, by engaging passionate students in other schools to create a network of Bins. Finally, in working with vendors, consumers, and government agencies, we believe the Bin will be a game changer that harmonises efforts between key stakeholders, reduces wastage, and allows more food to reach hungry stomachs.