Smart Trashcan

by mayilm26 in Circuits > Arduino

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Smart Trashcan

Screenshot 2025-01-30 at 4.15.30 AM.png

Waste Management is a global issue. Traditional Trash cans require frequent manual checks, so we propose the smart trash can, which offers an automated solution for efficient waste disposal and management.

Usage/Operating Instructions:

When a person (or an object) gets close to the trash can, the distance sensor senses the person and calculates the distance of the person from the trashcan and when the calculated distance hits a threshold, the servo motor is programmed to rotate and open the trash can. As the trash can gets full, more LEDs of the neopixel light up to show how full the trashcan is.

Potential Improvements:

  1. Integration with mobile apps/computer for real-time tracking
  2. AI-based waste categorization for recycling optimization

Supplies

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Software Requirements:

  1. Have Arduino installed
  2. Have the Neopixel Library installed in order to access the Neopixel library
  3. Link: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel_ZeroDMA
  4. “Servo.h” is available by default

What you’ll need/Material List:

  1. A Continuous Servo motor - TowerPro SG92R
  2. Purecrea Neopixel Ring 16x WS2812B RGB LED
  3. Ultrasonic Module Distance Measuring Sonar Sensor Module for Arduino x2
  4. Jumper Cables
  5. Microcontroller
  6. Trashcan with movable lid
  7. A 470 Ohm resistor
  8. A power source

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Assemble the components (the servo motors, the neopixel, the two distance sensors, the arduino board, a 470Ω resistor, and connecting wires) to make sure all parts are ready for wiring according to the circuit diagram.

Write the code and upload it to the microcontroller.

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Solder all the elements of the circuit onto the microcontroller according to the circuit diagram above. Then use long jumper wires to attach the components to the trash can. The motor is taped at the back of the trashcan and connected to the lid using a string.

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One of the two distance sensors is firmly attached to the upper inner wall of the trashcan. This distance sensor is used to measure how full the trashcan is at any particular time. The other distance sensor is attached to the outside of the trashcan which senses a nearby person (or object) and opens the trash can with the help of a continuous servo motor.

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The neopixel light is attached to the outside of the trashcan to display how full the trash can is. One of the distance sensors is programmed to turn a number of the legs in the neopixel on depending on the amount of trash in the trash can. The more the trash can gets full, the number of LEDs increases.

And finally, connect it to a power source.