Smart Waste Bin

Content guidelines

Context

Effective waste management is now a crucial concern for our planet. In both public and natural environments, a considerable number of people fail to be mindful of the garbage they discard. When a garbage collector is not present, it is more convenient to leave trash where it is rather than transport it back. Even spaces that are supposedly protected are contaminated with garbage.

To protect natural areas, it is crucial to ensure the presence of properly maintained waste disposal sites.

• To avoid them from getting too full, the containers need to be lifted regularly. Getting the timing right is difficult: If it’s too early, the trash could be empty, but if it’s too late, the trash could overflow. This issue becomes increasingly important when the bin is hard to reach (like on mountain hiking trails).

• Sorting can pose a significant challenge in this logical waste management approach. Nature can directly break down organic waste through composting. Non-biodegradable waste needs to be gathered for processing through specialized methods.

Purpose of the Project

Our project aims to offer a monitoring tool for smart garbage bins. This device incorporates multiple sensors for monitoring the condition of the garbage.

• A sensor that detects levels using ultrasonic technology to notify waste collection team and prevent overflow.
• Sensor for temperature and humidity: employed for monitoring the garbage surroundings. This is helpful for controlling the state of natural compost and avoiding pollution in particular instances (extremely wet or hot conditions, danger of fire in extremely dry conditions)
• Flame sensor: Some people may discard burning waste (such as cigarette butts) or purposely start a fire in the trash bin. A rubbish blaze can lead to significant environmental impact, such as triggering a wildfire. The flame sensor can notify the monitoring team of any issues.
• Moisture sensor: There is some need to maintain a certain level of moisture when compost material is composting. The moisture sensor in our project shall monitor the amount of moisture in compost.
• An opening sensor will be placed on the trash lid to gather data on waste disposal behavior and identify insufficient closures.
• Positioning system: trash needs to be recognized and pinpointed to assist the waste disposal team in their organization. It will provide increased flexibility in managing garbage locations by allowing for the implementation of temporary garbage bins (for example. In the summer, the individuals go on coastlines and trek, whereas during the winter, they go on ski terrains and other occasions such as games and festivals.

The project takes on its full meaning with a waste bin with two compartments:

• One for non-organic waste.

• One for organic waste with a composting process.

Sigfox Usage

The garbage will be placed in remote locations. The battery may be linked to a solar panel to supply power. We find Sigfox to be a highly effective solution for us.

• The Sigfox communication system provides extensive coverage over a wide area, enabling large-scale project deployment.
• The communication capabilities offered by the Sigfox system are adequate for our specific needs.
• Sigfox offers a 100m location solution: no need to include a GPS shield on the trash can.
• Sigfox, a low-power technology, enables devices to function independently for extended periods.

II. Project Details

Hardware Design Method

Project Steps

Step 1: Understand Sigfox

Sigfox is a method for linking devices within the realm of the Internet of Things. It is currently running in over 45 countries and on more than 3 million devices. The maximum size of the message is 12 bytes, with a total of 140 uplink messages and 4 downlink messages allowed per day.

Step 2: Hardware Lookup

The Hardware Used:

• Arduino MKR Fox 1200

• Mini Microswitch

• HC-SR04 – Ultrasonic Sensor

• DHT11 – Temperature and Humidity sensor

• KY-026 – Flame Sensor Module

• Moisture Sensor (Made to Order) – Although you can always use a standard moisture sensor, it will deteriorate after several months; the copper layer on the moisture sensor legs is skinny and gradually wears out. Therefore, what we use is a specific copper moisture sensor in an attempt to extend its life span concerning corroding.

In this project, we use a custom-made moisture sensor to make it last long before corrosion.

Step 3: Hardware Connection and Layout

Connection to Arduino MKR Fox 1200

Micro Switch -> Arduino MKR Fox 1200

• C -> GND

• NC -> Pin 3

DHT11 -> Arduino MKR Fox 1200

• VCC -> 5V

• GND -> GND

• DATA -> Pin 2

HC-SR04 -> Arduino MKR Fox 1200

• VCC -> 5V

• GND -> GND

• Trigger -> Pin 9

• Echo -> Pin 10

KY-026 -> Arduino MKR Fox 1200

• VCC -> 5V

• GND -> GND

• DATA -> Pin A0

Moisture Sensor (Custom Made) -> Arduino MKR Fox 1200

• VCC -> 5V

• GND -> GND

• SIG -> A1

Step 4: Arduino Code

Install Arduino IDE:

Install arduino IDE from this link : https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

Get the Code:

https://github.com/honhon01/Smart-Waste-Bin

Board and Library:

Before understanding the code, You need to install the board and library.

Board:

To install the board, go to “Tools > Board > Board Manager.”

Board Need:

• Arduino SAMD Boards (32-bits ARM Cortex-M0+)

Library :

To install the libraries, go to “Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.”

Libraries Need:

• Arduino Low Power

• Arduino Sigfox for MKR Fox 1200

• DHT sensor library

• Adafruit Unified Sensor Driver https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Sensor

• RTCZero

Look into the Code:

• #include <Sigfox.h> : Use to manage the Sigfox module and send or recieve the value from device.

• #include <ArduinoLowPower.h> : Use for put the Module to sleep and save the battery life.

• #include <DHT.h> : Normally, use for DHT11 to work.

Functions:

• setup() : In this function, we check if the Sigfox has begin. Also, setup the DHT11 and Ultrasonic sensor pins.

• loop() : In this function, we check if the button is pressed which mean the bin is closed or not. If the button is not pressed the Sigfox will not send the value but, If it pressed it will get the value from all sensors and send it to sendPayload() function.

• sendPayload() : This function will begin the Sigfox module and send all values as byte to SigFox. Then it will end the Sigfox module

Run the Code:

After you understand how the code work. Try to compile and upload the code.

Don’t forget to select the board to Arduino MKR Fox 1200 and the port to your device port.

Step 5: Activate Your Device

After you got your device, go to this link to activate the devicehttps://buy.sigfox.com/activate. Then, fill in the informations and you’ll got the device install.

Step 6: Sending the Data

Try to run the Arduino IDE again and this time the device will be able to send the data to SigFox. You can check if you received data in the SigFox backend. https://backend.sigfox.com/device/list

Step 7: Application Server

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is used as Application server. Which contain Node-RED, MariaDB and the Web Application.

Step 8: Backend Using Node-RED

Install Node-RED:

Follow the instructions from this link : https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/installation

Npm Need:

• node-red-node-mysql

To get the data from SigFox, we need to create our own server to receive the data. We use Node-RED as the tool to get the data from SigFox.

Step 9: Database – MariaDB

Install MariaDB:

Raspbian Raspberry Pi: https://howtoraspberrypi.com/mariadb-raspbian-raspberry-pi/

Others OS: https://mariadb.com/downloads

Step 10: Frontend Application (Website)

This is the frontend of our project. The website show the information and data send from devices.

3D Printing

Install the Object in 3D-Printed Box

1. Place DHT11 in point 1 and cover with “DHT11 maintain” part.

2. Place HC-SR04 in point 2 and cover with “interior” part.

3. Place KY-026 in point 3 on the top of “interior” part.

4. Place moisture sensor in point 4.

5. Place Arduino MKR Fox 1200 on point 5.

6. Place Mini Microswitch in the “middle top” part and close with “opening detector” part.

7. Connect “support” part with “base” part and place the antenna inside the “base”.

8. Connect “support” part to main box and close the box with “Middle top”, “Front top” and “Back top”.

III. Some Possible Extra Features

• Allow the user to adjust the bin’s height on the display screen instead of just on the Arduino.
• Separate waste types for improved organic and non-organic waste management.
• The monitor installed above the bin shows how much garbage is in it, allowing users to easily see if it’s full and avoid using it.
• Install a solar panel for an independent battery system.
• Monitor the composting process by regulating the water supply system and ventilation system.

IV. Conclusion

Our concept of a “Smart Trash Can” offers intelligent technology for managing waste, saving human time and effort, and ultimately creating a clean and waste-free environment.

The suggestion is to protect natural environments and minimize waste contamination through intelligent waste bins to effectively manage waste, allowing us to identify vacant or overcrowded areas. Therefore, this initiative can aid waste collectors in managing garbage effectively, promoting good waste management practices, and ensuring cleanliness. Understand the bin’s surroundings and its level. Therefore, we can coordinate the collection timetable.

The objective of this project is to create hardware that will enable devices to monitor the environment using sensors in Smart Waste bins, detecting the garbage level, temperature, humidity, moisture, and flames inside each bin at regular intervals. We linked every node to the sigfox network, they transmitted data to sigfox, and displayed the values on the website.

The final result is accessible on the following website: http://grit.esiee-amiens.fr:8069/smartbin/

V. Acknowledgements

We were permitted by King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. Due to the significance of this task, students in their third year of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering and Computer Engineering will undergo a 7-week training period.

ESIEE-Amiens, thank you for collaborating with us, offering a space for project development, giving engineering students access to lab training, and providing the necessary equipment. Training is a crucial aspect of academic pursuits as it aids students in grasping the engineering tasks performed in corporate settings.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to Nicolas DAILLY, our supervisor, and Thérèse ABY, co-supervisor for their patient guidance, enthusiastic encouragement, and useful critiques of our work. We would like to thank to Stéphane POMPORTES for his advice and assistance. My thanks are also extended to Nicolas HENOCQ who provided us with materials to make the moisture sensor and Moustapha KEBE for his suggestion in web development.

Source: Smart Waste Bin