Dive Brief:
- An interactive waste bin, developed through a collaboration between the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and a local company based in Abu Dhabi, tells recyclers the positive impact they're causing by recycling the item they just tossed into the bin.
- The innovative bin accepts paper, plastic, metal and general waste, which are all placed into separate compartments by the user.
- The messaging system can be customized, and companies can track the volume of waste received. There is an alert system integrated within the bin that announces when the receptacle has reached capacity.
Dive Insight:
The bin's encouraging messages include how many trees someone saved or the amount of energy that was not wasted by recycling.
Another twist on traditional receptacles, the Big Belly waste bins are trash cans manufactured by a company in the U.S. These receptacles are solar-powered, can compact waste automatically, and alert crews when the trash needs to be collected. Many cities, including New York City, have adopted the waste technology, adding bins to areas throughout the city.