Rinse&Recycle
Increasing Recycling in High Foot Traffic Environments
Ashley Halko, Charlie Greco, Connor Marsh, Daniel Giganti Dima,
David Nisula, Hailey Cassidy, Joshua Puerzer
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This project was developed as part of the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering course:
ENGR 0716: The Art of Making: An Introduction to Hands-On System Design and Engineering.
Significance: Finding the Issue
Significance: Finding the Issue
About 66% of recycling ends up in landfills and the environment due to bin contamination [1].
Consumer unawareness, in addition to the time and resources it requires for recycling plants to rinse their recycling, is a detriment to the longevity of our oceans and wildlife.
Problem Statement: Framing the Issue
Problem Statement: Framing the Issue
How might we reduce bin contamination due to liquid waste
while educating users on proper recycling standards?
Who Are We Designing For?
Who Are We Designing For?
Users
Users
Would-Be Recyclers
Stakeholders
Stakeholders
Recycling Plants + The Environment
Human-Centered Design: The Evolution of the Washcup System
Human-Centered Design: The Evolution of the Washcup System
Expert Outreach
Expert Outreach
Dr. David Sanchez - Associate Director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
75+ patrons/employees of local businesses
Recycling Plant Engineers
Iteration I: The Simple Solution
Iteration I: The Simple Solution
+ User-powered sprayer
+ Focused on effectively washing cups
- Confusing
- Inconvenient
WHAT WE LEARNED:
Our next iteration must improve in its ability to communicate its purpose to users
Iteration II: Failing Forward in Spectacular Fashion
Iteration II: Failing Forward in Spectacular Fashion
+ Noticeable
- Not enticing
- Confusing
WHAT WE LEARNED:
Rather than focusing on the functionality of washing a user's cup, we must instead focus on making our system enticing and interest-catching such that users will want to use our system.
Iteration III: A Hint Of Success?
Iteration III: A Hint Of Success?
+ Eye-catching
+ Clean and sleek
+ User interface feedback incorporated in real-time with sticky notes and velcro tabs
- No functionality
WHAT WE LEARNED:
Users liked the vertical, eye-catching design and would therefore interact with the system unprompted more often with intent to use it.
Iteration IV: The Final Model (For Now..?)
Iteration IV: The Final Model (For Now..?)
Our fourth iteration took the user feedback from testing and combined it with an automatic wash system to create a functional version of Iteration Three.
Bigger, functional, and made almost entirely from recycled and recyclable materials, Iteration Four was the model presented at the 2023 Swanson School of Engineering Design Expo, to overwhelmingly positive public and adjudicated response.
The Throwaways and Iteration Four were awarded Second Place in the Art of Making category at the 2023 Swanson School of Engineering Design Expo!
System Diagram/Functional Diagram: How Does it Work?
System Diagram/Functional Diagram: How Does it Work?
Design Goals
Design Goals
Intuitive Design: at least 10 users were able to use the Washcup System without assistance
Convenient: requires less than 7 seconds of user interaction to operate
Educational: users report a better knowledge of recycling after using the Washcup system
Effective: produces a clean 25 gallon bag of recycling
Results
Results
Evaluation of Design Goals (N=33):
Definitively Achieved
Convenience: Direct user interaction completed after 2 seconds
Effective: One 25-gallon bag of recycling produced by the end of Expo testing
Work-In-Progress Design Goals:
We were unable to determine whether or not we achieved our goals of an intuitive design and user education; though we were able to get a "general feel" from testing that we were on the right track, we do not currently have empirical data to claim that we achieved the aforementioned.
The Future of the Washcup System
The Future of the Washcup System
Implementation of "gray-water" recirculation to maximize waste reduction potential
Secondary opening for recycling of lids, straws, and sleeves
Automated sorting of accepted materials (plastic, glass, etc.)
We are currently considering the University of Pittsburgh's Classroom to Community program to continue development of the Washcup System
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
Our sincerest gratitude to AoM instructor Dr. Samosky, as well as Kevork Zeibari, Mark Hofmeister, Annabella Peretti, George Spann, and the rest of the AoM teaching staff. A big thank you to our users and experts for their participation.
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