Recycling generates positive externalities, benefiting the environment and society, but individuals lack sufficient economic incentives to participate actively, leading to low recycling rates.
Without effective policies such as deposit systems or subsidies, aluminum cans often end up in landfills instead of being recycled.
.png)
.png){kind=small}
The absence of a functional solution for this problem underscores a strong market need for an effective model.
.png)
We need to motivate users to recycle and develop a convenient way to recycle.
The surey collected total of 137 responses, with age ranges 17 - 61. Providing a solid data set for analyzing user domographics and behaviors related to their recycling experiences
.png)
More than 65% of people think that we are not handling recyclable items such as cans well.
More than 47% of people think that we should have a better solution
More than 80% waste happens when people are working ( home / school / work )
"We often see trash bins filling up quickly with aluminum cans because they take up so much space, even though they're lightweight. This means we have to empty the bins more frequently, which adds time and effort to our work. Overflowing bins also cause littering, making public spaces look unclean."
"Empty cans left on tables take up a lot of space and make the area look untidy. When thrown away, they need to go into the recycling bin, but the bins fill up quickly, attracting flies and making maintenance even more challenging."
Aluminum cans require sorting after collection to ensure proper processing, with facilities compressing them into cubes for efficient transportation. This underscores the importance of intelligent solutions to optimize sorting before materials reach recycling plants.
The California Redemption Value (CRV) system creates a paradox of high costs and low returns for both consumers and recycling centers. Consumers, especially low-income households, face an added financial burden with the upfront deposit and often find the refund process inconvenient or inaccessible. Meanwhile, recycling centers struggle with high operational costs and fluctuating market values for recycled materials, leading to closures and reduced service availability. This imbalance highlights the need for more sustainable and equitable solutions to support both parties and ensure the effectiveness of the recycling system.
Wastewater from cleaning cans before recycling can cause pollution if not properly treated.
Improper handling of waste liquids or emissions during smelting or recycling may contaminate water.
Unregulated disposal of recycling byproducts, such as polluted wastewater, can lead to water pollution.
Aluminum cans hold significant resale value, making them a highly profitable and widely sought-after material for recycling and reuse.
Recycling aluminum cans reduces environmental impact as they can be endlessly reused, conserving resources and energy.
A can compressor simplifies the recycling process, making storage and transportation more efficient and hassle-free.
There is no dedicated storage device capable of compressing and storing cans efficiently, leading to difficulties in managing collected recyclables and optimizing space for recycling operations.
People often recycle without seeing the direct impact of their efforts. Providing real-time feedback or small rewards could increase motivation and engagement.
Users can monitor compressed cans, schedule pickups, and track some environmental contributions like carbon footprint reduction.
A compact trash bin with built-in can compression, optimized for small spaces, storing up to 300+ compressed cans efficiently.
The app tracks recycling progress, schedules on-demand pickups, and rewards users for their efforts.
Since recycling cans plays a crucial role in protecting our oceans, We want to create a virtual aquarium that grows and evolves based on your contributions, visually showcasing the positive impact of your recycling efforts over time.
.png)
We transformed the wireframe from a functional recycling tracker into an immersive sea environment-raising experience, evolving from a minimalistic interface to a vibrant, dynamic underwater world that visually rewards user engagement.
The aquarium showcases diverse local (Bay Area) marine life, connecting users to the local ecosystem.
Each fish serves as a collectible reward unlocked with the recycling points, which can motivate users to engage and contribute consistently.
We refined the design to make sea environment raising the central theme of the app. Users improve their virtual ocean by recycling, earning new marine life and enhancing their underwater ecosystem.
The Canpressor is designed to fit seamlessly into small rooms, with dimensions of 6 feet by 23.2 inches by 27 inches. Despite its narrow body, it can store up to 480 compressed cans (2 layers of 8 cans stacked 30 cans high) in the kitchen, living room, or any other space where the user enjoys a refreshing drink.
Various environmental enhancements, such as coral growth, schools of fish, and shifting water textures, respond to users' recycling efforts, reinforcing their impact on the ecosystem. These changes make the overall visuals more captivating and encourage deeper emotional engagement with the app.
.gif)
The choice of green as the theme color is intentional, as it embodies the essence of environmental friendliness, cleanliness, and freshness. Green is universally associated with nature and sustainability, reinforcing the app's focus on promoting eco-friendly practices. Additionally, the clean and refreshing feel of green creates a welcoming and calming user experience, aligning with the app's goal to inspire positive recycling habits in a simple and approachable way.
.png)
.png)
Our design accommodates cans of various standard sizes available on the market, ensuring versatility and efficiency in the recycling process. However, for plastic bottles, we aim to collaborate directly with facilities that specialize exclusively in can recycling. Therefore, we do not recommend including plastic bottles in our compression system.
We realized that for the app to have a meaningful real-world impact, collaboration with local environmental government support is essential. Their involvement in promoting recycling initiatives and integrating real-life incentives could enhance user participation and drive long-term behavioral change.
Potential partners include schools, recycling companies, beverage brands, municipal waste management, and event organizers to integrate efficient can compression and recycling solutions.
To maximize the impact of the gamified recycling app, the next steps will focus on three key areas:
Partner with local organizations to introduce the app in recycling programs, fostering sustainable habits through education and engagement.
Use social media, marketing campaigns, and collaborations with eco-conscious brands to expand the app’s reach and encourage adoption.
Work with businesses and policymakers to integrate app data into sustainability efforts, shaping better recycling policies and incentives.