TRASHbot is an AI powered autonomous trashbin built using Raspberry Pi 3b+, the AI brain, and Arduino uno r3.
Smart Waste Management Solution- TRASHbot
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Published in Samvada magazine
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Rank 2 in India & Rank 1 In Delhi NCR
Why Waste Management
World Bank report says, of the billion tonnes of waste generated at least 33% of it is mismanaged. In india too, only about 30–35% is treated, and 70% of urban waste remains unsorted at collection, according to Central Pollution Control Board. Mixed and littered waste leads to methane emissions, which is a major contributor of India’s methane emissions, worsening climate change and increasing respiratory diseases. Despite awareness, waste segregation remains inconsistent. Bins are often ignored or inaccessible, leading to littering. This creates a pressing need for innovative solutions for proper waste management.
Causes ill effects on health & affects overall health of society.
Unsegregated waste makes burden on sanitary workers and leads to landfills.
Due to piled waste and littering, air quality becomes poor and AQI rises.
Solution
TRASHbot gives real time information and segregates waste automatically based on image classification by the YOLOv3 object detection library and classifies it into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. A mobile app helps in navigation of the bin, gamifying waste disposal methods. It aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) 9 and 11.
TRASHbot makes the daunting, inconvenient task of waste management simple, effortless and even fun! No more worrying about mountains of debris. This is a small step towards making the earth cleaner and greener.
Mobility
Moves autonomously towards people using sensors.
AI Sorting
Uses a Pi Camera + YOLOv3 on Raspberry Pi to identify waste type, then sorts it into the correct bin.
Dual Modes
Operates both autonomously and via Bluetooth (manual control for events/demos).
Modular Design
Lightweight foam board chassis, stable motor system, and easily replaceable parts for durability.
Features
85%
Waste classification accuracy
90%
Sorting mechanism success rate
98%
Obstacle avoidance response rate
92%
Real time classification of waste
Target Audience
To make India’s plastic recycling truly sustainable, the country must align design, infrastructure, policy, and the people into a circular economy that works at every level, from households to high end manufacturing.
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Target Deployments: Schools, offices, cafeterias, and public spaces
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Advantages:
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Promotes sustainable practices
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Reduces human effort and error in waste sorting
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Affordable and economical prototype
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Adaptable to different waste scenarios
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Scalability: Can be scaled for multi-class waste categorization
About
About Founder
Mahi Malhani is a young innovator of grade 12 student from Amity International School, Mayur Vihar, Delhi, and founded TRASHbot to revolutionize current methods of waste management for a sustainable environment.