Conceptualization

A user can input the type and amount of certain waste and the system will respond with three potential options:

1. Carbon footprint overview: The system will show different disposal options like recycling or reuse and the resulting carbon emission from the respective options. The following options are updated based on a disposal choice made from the earlier suggested options.

2. Locations: Disposal location available around based on the option selected in the earlier section

3. Carbage tip: Related tips, facts, and best practices related to the chosen option above

Users may directly look for disposal locations based on different filters i.e. distance, emission amount, alternative options with lesser emission, specialty or seasonal locations, etc too. Also, they can browse through different tips, facts, and best practices too from the knowledge base.

Literature Review

The average American creates around 4.9 pounds of garbage every day. In 2018, this amounted to 292 million tons of trash [3]. Currently, trash that cannot be recycled can only be disposed of by dumping it into a landfill or using an incinerator to burn it. Unfortunately, both methods pollute the environment and create toxic greenhouse gasses. For recyclable waste, emissions may be reduced, but the recycling process will also add emissions. The best solution here is to not make trash in the first place, by reusing as much as possible.

To improve the waste management process, Marrucci et al. [4] assessed the environmental impacts of waste management systems of supermarkets through their carbon footprints. This was done by comparing their carbon dioxide equivalents, a unit that measures the effect of emissions produced against a carbon dioxide standard. After this initial analysis, a new waste management system was set in place by the researchers, which showed better performance.

In another study, researchers Cobo et al. [5] developed a software to assist in reducing organic waste. While their study was geared towards helping larger entities with major decision-making capabilities rather than individuals, they faced similar sustainability challenges. At the end of the study, they created a tool that allows one to select the optimal configuration of a waste management chain. Lastly, Zheng et al. conducted a study to illustrate the necessity for combining energy, material, recycling, and demand-management strategies to slow down growing emissions from plastics [6].

Market Analysis

After conducting the literature review, we found that younger generations of adults are increasingly concerned about bettering the environment and are more willing to take actions. Most adults engage in some sort of activity to reduce waste, with 81% of all adults saying they actively reduce food waste [1]. Furthermore, when seeking recycling locations, people resorted to manually searching on Google Maps.

We observe that there are many online carbon footprint calculators such as the US EPA Calculator [7], which help people to calculate how much carbon footprint they have produced. People also use online platforms for occasional or seasonal waste disposal such as the Christmas Tree Recycling locations in Chicago by RecycleByCity [8].

There are some major differences between Carbage and these applications. Current online carbon footprint calculators and map applications for recycling centers are very monotonous and mostly don’t come with specific filters such as distance, emission amount, alternates with lesser emission, specialty or seasonal locations etc. These websites are clustered with information that an ordinary user doesn’t always understand. In order to increase learnability, Carbage can use graphs and other visual representations to give users an intuitive understanding of the amount of garbage and emissions they are producing. Plus, the process of tracking can be gamified to create a fun, healthy competition between users and increase the application’s usage. Carbage will provide waste-specific disposal options with further options to either look for disposal facilities or better alternates in terms of reducing carbon footprint.

Development Options

One of the most important aspects of Carbage is that it should be most fitted to be an application that is accessible at all times. This allows users to look up tips or enter information about their waste at any time. To satisfy this need, the best development option is a responsive website.

We also see the possibility of translating our prototype into a native mobile application. Lastly, to make Carbage easier to use and to obtain more accurate emission information, entering or scanning specific products is also a possible feature.

References

[1] Funk, C., et al. (2021, May 26) Gen Z, Millennials Stand Out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement With Issue. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2021/05/26/gen-z-millennials-stand-out-for-climate-change-activism-social-media-engagement-with-issue/.

[2] Funk, C., et al. (2020, September 29) Science and Scientists Held in High Esteem Across Global Publics. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/09/29/concern-over-climate-and-the-environment-predominates-among-these-publics/.

[3] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling

[4] Marrucci, L., Marchi, M., & Daddi, T. (2020). Improving the carbon footprint of food and packaging waste management in a supermarket of the Italian retail sector. Waste Management, 105, 594–603. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.03.002

[5] Cobo, S.; Dominguez-Ramos, A.; Irabien, A. Minimization of Resource Consumption and Carbon Footprint of a Circular Organic Waste Valorization System. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2018, 6, 3493−3501.

[6] Zheng, J., Suh, S. Strategies to reduce the global carbon footprint of plastics. Nat. Clim. Chang. 9, 374–378 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0459-z

[7] https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator

[8] https://www.recyclebycity.com/chicago/brief/christmas-tree-recycling