Embedded Files
Problem: Where Do I Put My Trash
Problem: Where Do I Put My Trash
Have you ever stood in front of a recycling bin wondering whether you could throw in your to-go coffee cup? Or, the wrapper of the breakfast bar you just ate? Let’s face it, it isn’t easy to remember where they go. The U-M Office of Sustainability seeks to reduce the waste that goes to landfill by 40% in 2025. With a new mobile app, ContaMiNot (Final Destination*), we aim to make it easier for the community to contribute to these efforts. Users will be able to look up where a specific item belongs (compost, recycling, landfill). Potentially, the app could provide users with an ability to log disposed items, and practice environmentally-conscious choices by competing with others. Quizzes and interesting facts about personal climate impact are other options. We believe that Final Destination will make an important contribution to waste reduction efforts at U-M by developing a more environmentally informed community.
Solution: Use The ContaMiNot App
Solution: Use The ContaMiNot App
The ContaMiNot app allows the user to quickly and easily identify the appropriate bin for waste disposal. You can see the app in action in both our 3-Minute & 10-Minute presentations!
- 3-Minute Pitch (video)
- 3 Minute Presentation (slides)
- 10-Minute Presentation to Judges (video)
- 10 Minute Presentation (slides)
- Judges Comments (video)
3-Minute Pitch (video)
10-Minute Presentation to Judges (video)
“It’s not just tech with cool features, object recognition, and machine learning, it's technologists thinking about social change as well. These are issues we need to think about as part of Michigan IT.”
“It’s not just tech with cool features, object recognition, and machine learning, it's technologists thinking about social change as well. These are issues we need to think about as part of Michigan IT.”
The ContaMiNot Team
The ContaMiNot Team
The ContaMiNot Team is a diverse group of people from across the University of Michigan that are dedicated to working with University stakeholders to reduce the waste that goes into landfills by 40% in 2025.
The ContaMiNot Team is a diverse group of people from across the University of Michigan that are dedicated to working with University stakeholders to reduce the waste that goes into landfills by 40% in 2025.
Current Sponsors
Current Sponsors
We are currently working with different groups at the University of Michigan to bring this tool to the U-M community.
- Office for Campus Sustainability (OCS)
- Student Life/Michigan Dining
- Office of Academic Innovation Extended Reality(XR) Initiative
If you would like to see this project grow please reach out to us!
How It Works & Our Goals
How It Works & Our Goals
ContaMiNot performs object recognition via machine learning using the Core ML Framework to assist the user in identifying where the various pieces of their waste need to go. Now that we have a proof of concept our goals are to:
- Prevent Contamination
- Educate About Waste Disposal
- Motivate People To Participate in Waste Disposal
- Reduce U-M landfill waste by 40% until 2025
- Give people information to lobby for what they need
- Keep our land and oceans cleaner
- Help us combat climate change
Next Steps
Next Steps
Moving to a Maximum Viable Product & How Our App Can Scale
Moving to a Maximum Viable Product & How Our App Can Scale
Database
Database
- Expand the database to include waste products
- Build ML library to recognize objects
- Add more information about proper waste disposal
- Provide options for user feedback
- Customize the database and ML model based on local waste facilities and options
U-M Community
U-M Community
- Make available to U-M
- Integrate with U-M app
- Enable competitions
- Run awareness campaigns
Scale App
Scale App
- Build out gamification
- Add an `I re-used’ option
- Make available in App store
- Build Android version
- Release as open source project
- Expand accessibility options:
- Bin identification using image recognition
- Optimize to work with existing smart device accessibility capabilities (iOS and Android)
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