Standalone Frequency Based Automated Trash Bin and Segregator of Plastic Bottles and Tin Cans

Segregation is the first step to total waste management. Studies show that majority of the population do not segregate wastes because they find it inconvenient. A previous study entitled “Resonant Frequency Based Automated Waste Material Segregator using MATLAB” was done to address this inconvenience. The previous study presented a device that isolates plastic bottles and tin cans through the use of the object's resonant frequency. However, it was computer-dependent and had limitations with regard to the position of drop of the object. Thus, this paper presents a standalone system, an automated trash bin that distinguishes plastic bottles and tin cans regardless of the object's position of drop. The system used a piezoelectric microphone for input signal acquisition and a comparator for noise elimination. Instead of resonant frequency, the system relied on the average frequency response of the object as it hits the platform. The decision process is done by the microcontroller Arduino. The platform used is made of galvanized iron connected to a DC motor that physically segregates the objects. This study will help the community on waste recovery and aims to make recycling more convenient.