CONCEPT:
IoTrash serves to equip the city with a tool for addressing one of the cities most prevalent urban problems: trash. Trash affects our cities. It can negatively impact public perception of an area, influence residents’ sense of pride and ownership of their neighborhood, and can create public health and safety concerns. Addressing trash is a noted priority for Philadelphia, with Mayor Kenney committing to achieving zero waste by 2035 through CleanPHL and the Zero Waste and Litter cabinet.
This project, IoTrash, specifically targets the issue of residential trash. This is a noted concern for areas in which there is limited space to store trash in advance of weekly pick-ups. IoTrash solves this urban problem by (1) providing a shared, designated space for residents to drop-off and store trash at anytime, and (2) using sensors and communication technology to track important data (e.g. IoTrash fullness level) toward coordinating trash pick-up and helping residents plan their drop-offs.
PILOT LOCATION: 4700 Frankford Avenue
We selected an area that grapples with this issue, the 4700 block of Frankford Avenue, as the location of our pilot site (see map below).
Residential trash has been an issue and a priority for Frankford for years. In 2014, Frankford CDC partnered with the PhillyRising Collaborative to provide trash receptacles to 50 residents, but results proved unsuccessful. At present, residents taking out household trash in advance of Tuesday pick-up are faced with two options: to place their trash on the sidewalk, or to dump their trash into existing litter receptacles.
IoTrash expands upon an existing proposal, the trashlet, included in Community Design Collaborative’s 2016 report on Conceptual Design for Streetscape Improvements prepared for the Frankford Community Development Corporation. The trashlet proposed reclaiming a parking space on Frankford Avenue, under the elevated rail structure, to provide a shared resource for trash storage and collection. IoTrash suggests moving the trashlet to a currently underutilized area off the street but adjacent to the elevated rail structure, to allow the IoTrash to provide a more engaging and attractive feature in the community. Using sensors, interactive displays, and wireless communication, IoTrash enhances the functionality of the CDC’s proposed trashlet and provides an opportunity to advance the technology and coordination of trash collection.
The following section explains the various components and functions of IoTrash, based on a small-scale prototype model.
EQUIPMENT:
- Arduino Uno x 3 (starter kit includes necessary wires and resistors)
- Breadboards x 3
- Piezoelectric sensor
- Ultrasonic sensor
- LED Bar graph
- Keypad
- Servo motor
- 9V batteries x 2
- 18650 battery
- Battery storage
- SEPTA Market Frankford Line Wooden Train
HOW IT WORKS:
A piezoelectric sensor placed on the elevated rail structure will sense the vibrations of trains arriving at the Arrott Transportation Center station, triggering an energy harvester to collect and convert the vibration energy into power, recharging the IoTrash battery.
When a resident approaches the IoTrash, the first step is to unlock the IoTrash. Using a keypad, the resident inputs a password that, if input correctly, will cause the servo motor to turn 90 degrees counterclockwise, unlocking the lid to the IoTrash. (If the password is not input correctly, the servo will remain stationary).
As residents visit and deposit trash, an ultrasonic sensor monitors the fullness of the bin. The sensor continuously sends out sound waves, and measures the time lapsed before the sound waves return – the closer the object or more full the IoTrash, the shorter the time. This time is converted into a distance, which refers to the level to which the IoTrash is full. This percentage is conveyed to an LED bar graph, placed on the exterior of the IoTrash, which lights up between 1-10 lights based on the percentage of fullness. These lights informs residents of the fullness as they pass by the IoTrash.
This fullness percentage will also be passed wirelessly through the LoRa Network. While LoRa is similar to WiFi in that it can transmit information to wireless devices, LoRa is ideal for this project because it uses up less power and can transfer small amounts of data, like the fullness output from our sensor, and operates will over long distances or behind barriers, which is important since the IoTrash will be situated under the elevated rail structure.
Through the LoRa, information will be shared with the Streets Department to coordinate and optimize pick-up.
It will also be shared with residents, who can use an associated app for a quick glance at how full their IoTrash is, to avoid bringing trash to the receptacle only to discover it is full. Both the Streets Department and resident will be able to check recent trends, such as when the trash was full versus when it was picked up, and provide feedback if trash is not being picked up adequately or if something is broken.
NEXT STEPS AND OPPORTUNITIES:
There are lots of opportunities for expansion beyond the initial pilot trashlet. As explained earlier, there was an already identified need to address trash in our pilot area, but the map below shows that there are many places in Philadelphia even worse off.
The areas in dark blue would be good places to expand the IoTrash program to, with 100 installations in total. These installations around Philadelphia could be used as a test to determine if the way we view residential trash can be improved and whether smart trash can be expanded to other forms of trash like trash from commercial businesses.
Some elements of the project would need to be modified for installation in these other areas. For example, the piezoelectric sensor to harness energy, would need to be replaced with another form of energy generation like solar energy if applicable. However, elements like the mural at the installation site would allow the different communities to integrate IoTrash rather than feel it is being imposed on them.
In Philadelphia, there are many opportunities for collaboration on a project like this especially with the Streets department (which is in charge of trash collection), the Knight Foundation, and Keep Philadelphia Beautiful. Neighborhood community development corporations would also be another great partner in resolving the neighborhood trash issue as they are directly invested in improving communities.
It is clear that litter and trash are a big issue throughout Philadelphia. IoTrash, with the pilot site in Frankford and the other 99 installations, can be the first step to solving the way the city manages residential trash.