Designing With Web
Part 3 · Phase 1: Prototype

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Group 4

Our group

• Laëtitia LANCELLOTTA: link-to-part-2-assignment.glitch.me
• Divya CHAUHAN: link-to-part-2-assignment.glitch.me
• Ibukun ADEBAYO: link-to-part-2-assignment.glitch.me
• Daniel GALDO: link-to-part-2-assignment.glitch.me
• Cedric HAGE: link-to-part-2-assignment.glitch.me

Our subject

Our subject is Improving municipal waste management through citizen action.
It comes from the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal number 11, which is entitled "Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".

Our research question

The research question we have formulated together is "How might we educate and engage French households into efficient waste management activities through the use of data and tech?". The two projects ideas below try to answer that question.

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Project 1 · (KnowYourGarbage)

Context

Countries all around the world are attempting to pull the emergency brake on climate change. Like many of its international counterparts, Europe has adopted a clear legal framework with ambitious objectives: net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and 100% of recycled plastic by 2025.

While France is among the good students of the Schengen area, only 51% of households recycled consistently in 2020. As for groups that recycle punctually or infrequently, they often cite confusion about proper recycling practices and lack of understanding of the efficacy of their actions as barriers to taking action. These obstacles result in additional costs for local governments and frustrations for community members looking to make a difference.

Policymakers, residents, non-profit organizations, and corporations must work together to enhance waste management practices. At the grassroots of it all, citizens' participation is critical to achieving goals and reaching newly set European standards.

“Is this type of plastic recyclable?
What to do with Styrofoam?
Where do I discard my electronics?
Where is the nearest collection point?”

All of those are questions that users ask themselves every day. This is the reason we chose to develop KnowYourGarbage, an app that allows French citizens to receive precise instructions and resources on how to recycle a specific product by taking a picture of the item, thanks to machine learning and API technology.

Target + persona

KnowYourGarbage is targeted at people between the ages of 20 and 35. These people are conscious about how their actions affect the environment and are interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle, especially by learning how to recycle the right way.
In general, they earn more than average and don't have too many commitments, which is important because it means they are able to dedicate time to stop and check how to dispose of their waste.

Persona

Service offered

KnowYourGarbage allows users to scan household products and materials and obtain detailed information about the composition, ways, and resources to recycle or dispose of the item. This solution is meant to have a positive impact on the environment and well as local infrastructure by encouraging users to sort and dispose of their waste in the right way.

The app relies on machine learning technology and APIs. The solution is trained on multiple data sets in order to identify shapes (bottles, boxes, caps), brand and product names, materials (plastic, glass, carton, fabric), and then returns results. The user is also able to scan the product’s barcode if there is one. The system then retrieves the product's unique identifier and connects it to a database containing information about composition and associated waste management methods.

Features + user flow

Features

• Feature 1 (key feature): Scan or add image of waste items.
• Feature 2: Learn about tips and tricks for recycling different categories of items e.g. clean plastics before recycling, etc; differentiate the recyclables from the non-recyclables.
• Feature 3: Find the nearest recycling point.
• Feature 4: Discover citizen action opportunities in your neighborhood.
• Feature 5: Create a trash calendar.
• Feature 6: Receive notifications about trash day.
• Feature 7: Create a profile.
• Feature 8: Set goals and view progress.
• Feature 9: Save and share scanned items.

User flow

• Initial situation: Home page.
• Step 1: Tap “Scan Now” to scan a waste item OR Tap “Camera” or “Upload” icon to add an image of a waste item.
• Step 2: Confirm category of newly added item.
• Final situation: A pop-up showing how to dispose of or recycle the newly added item.

Illustrations

Benchmark

• RecycleNation is a location-based mobile app designed to improve recycling knowledge and overall recycling rates across the United States. RecycleNation has one of the most comprehensive recycling databases in the world, allowing users to choose from 15 categories that list more than 2,500 items, helping to determine what they can and cannot recycle.
• RecycleSmart mobile app was built in partnership with Planet Ark and is Australia’s most comprehensive recycling mobile app. It lets users select their council from a full list of over 500 Australian councils. By setting location, it enables them to find the nearest recycling drop-off spots and special waste facilities
• My-waste mobile recycling app works with municipalities across the globe to deliver up-to-date waste and recycling information to residents. Users can sign up and enter their postcode to receive reminders about bin collection dates within their region, set reminders for waste and recycling collections and even search the ‘What Goes Where’ database if you’re unsure what you can recycle.

References

• Reference name, link, how is it linked to your project
• Reference name, link, how is it linked to your project
• ...

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Project 2 · (GarbageConnect)

Context

With on average 546 kg of waste per person and per year, French residents produce their fair share of garbage and often do not know how to dispose of it properly. In the past decade and in consideration of the growing climate emergency, recycling has become one of the priorities of local governments and it is increasingly important for France to find ways to make recycling more efficient, more participatory, and less burdensome for infrastructure.

As citizens explore ways to get involved, new trends such as zero-waste lifestyles or thrift shopping have gained traction. Following this concept, GarbageConnect is a new integrated platform that allows users to give away their reusable waste to individuals or companies looking to collect it to give it a second life.

Say goodbye to the multitude of apps on your phone. Where you needed Geev, TooGoodToGo and Vinted to donate or exchange your recyclable waste before, GarbageConnect consolidates all those services in one app and allows you to recycle with your community and from the comfort of your home.

From electronics, plastic, metal and cartons to wood, plants, fabric, and more, there’s space for everything on GarbageConnect.

Target + persona

GarbageConnect has a wider target, from 17 to 50 years and even older. These people don't necessarily want to be a part of a sustainability culture, but they seek the convenience that comes from being able to get rid of the things they don't need, while making some extra money.
This app is also for treasure hunters or private companies that need these second-hand items, From those who need to recycle plastics for building materials, to the fashion designers who'd like to upcycle worn out clothes into new styles, the possibilities are endless!

Service offered

The particularity of the app is its two-fold community centric components.

User-to-user: similarly to apps such as Geev, users take action and offer their garbage to others who are looking to give it a second life: an artist looking for fabric for their new piece, a citizen initiative looking for recyclable plastic to create a new type of brick, etc.
User-to-company: In France, not all the recyclable trash collected by local infrastructure is actually recycled. Often, due to infrastructure overload or lack of capacity, the trash is actually packaged in bundles and sold to private companies that need such materials as part of their manufacturing. GarbageConnect emulates this process by positioning itself as a middleman between users discarding their garbage and small to medium manufacturing companies. GarbageConnect allows citizens to dispose of large amounts of trash, provided that they have bundled them properly in exchange for money, and sells them to private companies afterwards.

Features + user flow

Features

• Feature 1 (key feature): Create a garbage listing.
• Feature 2: View active listings near you.
• Feature 3: Create a profile.
• Feature 4: Chat with other users.
• Feature 5: Receive alerts.
• Feature 6: Accumulate points.
• Feature 7: Earn badges based on points accumulated.

User flow

• Initial situation: Home Page.
• Step 1: Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to access the Share screen.
• Step 2: Fill Product, Location, Description, and Image fields.
• Step 3: Tap “Share Now”.
• Final situation: Product Page, where you can view the recently added listing.

Illustrations

Benchmark

• Geev was created to combat waste and promote a circular economy. It is a community-based web platform and mobile app, where users can donate items and food to people who need them. While GarbageConnect gets its inspiration from Geev’s eco-friendly and donation-based concept, the two platforms have their differences. With Geev, donated items must be in good condition and/or edible, whereas GarbageConnect is a space for things that can be classified as "garbage". Also, Geev offers paid subscription with Geev Plus, while GarbageConnect will be completely free for donors and individual collectors.
• Smart Cycle is a location-based platform that shows users items that they can collect near them. Users can also easily advertise an item for donation or report abandoned items for interested individuals to find and collect.

References

• Geev
• Smartcycle