Streamlined Waste Management System to Schedule, Scan, & Recycle with Ease at User's Convenient Time
Streamlined Waste Management System to Schedule, Scan, & Recycle with Ease at User's Convenient Time
Recycle smarter—anytime, anywhere.
Recycle smarter—anytime, anywhere.
Project Overview
Project Overview
What is Recycle?
What is Recycle?
A community-driven solution reimagining waste management in Indianapolis—making recycling more accessible through smart scheduling, intuitive scanning, and effortless sorting, all tailored to user convenience.
A community-driven solution reimagining waste management in Indianapolis—making recycling more accessible through smart scheduling, intuitive scanning, and effortless sorting, all tailored to user convenience.
Our goal was to design a user-friendly system that makes recycling simple and easy
Our goal was to design a user-friendly system that makes recycling simple and easy
My Role
My Role
Experience Designer
Experience Designer
Platform
Platform
Smart Waste Management System
Smart Waste Management System
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Research(Observation & Secondary), Interviews, Designs, Prototype and Usability Testing
Research(Observation & Secondary), Interviews, Designs, Prototype and Usability Testing
Timeline
Timeline
6 Weeks
6 Weeks
Team
Team
Achuta Anekal, Arati Ghimire, Sarowar Hossain, Sandy Tawfik
Achuta Anekal
Arati Ghimire
Sarowar Hossain
Sandy Tawfik
Tools
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Google Forms, Google Docs, Zoom
Figma, Figjam, Google Forms, Google Docs, Zoom
Problem Context
Problem Context
Indiana—especially Indianapolis—has some of the lowest recycling rates in the U.S., ranging from just 7% to 19%. Despite growing public concern, residents lack easy access to tools and clear systems for sustainable waste disposal. Many rely on outdated or limited services, leading to confusion, overflow, and missed opportunities to recycle effectively.
Indiana—especially Indianapolis—has some of the lowest recycling rates in the U.S., ranging from just 7% to 19%. Despite growing public concern, residents lack easy access to tools and clear systems for sustainable waste disposal. Many rely on outdated or limited services, leading to confusion, overflow, and missed opportunities to recycle effectively.
Why is this Problem Important?
Why is this Problem Important?
Without supportive systems, sustainable habits remain hard to adopt..As climate change accelerates, local-level inaction—like poor waste management—contributes to larger environmental impact. Now more than ever, accessible and motivating solutions are essential.
Without supportive systems, sustainable habits remain hard to adopt..As climate change accelerates, local-level inaction—like poor waste management—contributes to larger environmental impact. Now more than ever, accessible and motivating solutions are essential.
Final Goal
Final Goal
To design an intuitive and accessible solution that empowers users to recycle more effectively by simplifying the process through smart scheduling, clear guidance, and real-time support—making sustainable habits easier to adopt and maintain.
To design an intuitive and accessible solution that empowers users to recycle more effectively by simplifying the process through smart scheduling, clear guidance, and real-time support—making sustainable habits easier to adopt and maintain.
Snippets of Solution
Snippets of Solution
Before explaining the design process, discover the some features and gamification of the project
Before explaining the design process, discover the some features and gamification of the project
User Research
User Research
We used 3 different research method to deliver pain points of the user. These research methods guided and helped us to make the prominent design decision.
We used 3 different research method to deliver pain points of the user. These research methods guided and helped us to make the prominent design decision.
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Secondary research helped and validate revealed proven global solutions and local gaps, helping us design smarter features grounded in what actually works.
Secondary research helped and validate revealed proven global solutions and local gaps, helping us design smarter features grounded in what actually works.
Primary Research
Primary Research
We conducted interviews and observations to understand real user behaviors, frustrations, and daily waste habits—insights that data alone couldn’t reveal.
We conducted interviews and observations to understand real user behaviors, frustrations, and daily waste habits—insights that data alone couldn’t reveal.
Research Method 1 - Observation
Research Method 1 - Observation
We conducted observations at fast food chains, cafes, campus dining areas, and public spaces. This helped us understand real disposal habits, like users ignoring bin labels, rushing through cleanup, and the lack of clear recycling guidance in shared spaces.
We conducted observations at fast food chains, cafes, campus dining areas, and public spaces. This helped us understand real disposal habits, like users ignoring bin labels, rushing through cleanup, and the lack of clear recycling guidance in shared spaces.
Few pictures we took from our site visit observation
Few pictures we took from our site visit observation
Research Method 2 - Interviews
Research Method 2 - Interviews
To better understand the problem, we interviewed four homeowners and four small business owners. Their insights helped us define clear goals, uncover key user needs and challenges, and align our solution with real-world scenarios through collaborative idea generation.
To better understand the problem, we interviewed four homeowners and four small business owners. Their insights helped us define clear goals, uncover key user needs and challenges, and align our solution with real-world scenarios through collaborative idea generation.
💭
💭
What We Thought User Wanted
What We Thought User Wanted
General reminders to take out the trash
General reminders to take out the trash
Simple educational tips on recycling
Simple educational tips on recycling
A clean-looking app with basic scheduling
A clean-looking app with basic scheduling
✅
✅
What Users Actually Wanted
What Users Actually Wanted
Flexible pickup scheduling + emergency option
Flexible pickup scheduling + emergency option
Clear recycling and sorting guidance
Clear recycling and sorting guidance
Service accountability for missed pickups
Service accountability for missed pickups
Progress tracking and motivation features
Progress tracking and motivation features
Support for sorting waste at home
Support for sorting waste at home
Affinity Mapping & Empathy Map
We synthesized interview/observation data into four main user needs—clarity, trust, motivation, and learning—using affinity mapping and empathy maps to humanize our insights.
Search
We synthesized interview/observation data into four main user needs—clarity, trust, motivation, and learning—using affinity mapping and empathy maps to humanize our insights.
Search
Afffinity Mapping
Empathy Map
Clearly, there is a gap between people’s perceptions of impact and their actions
Clearly, there is a gap between people’s perceptions of impact and their actions
So what were the Key Takeaways from the Research?
So what were the Key Takeaways from the Research?
Our research helped us identify four key user needs—clarity, trust, motivation, and accessible learning—and guided our design strategies to meet them.
Backed by data showing low responsible disposal (13%) despite 100% expressing care for recycling, our solution aims to close the gap between intention and action through thoughtful, reliable, and engaging features.
An engaging experience centered around thoughtfulness
By putting user empathy at the center of design process, we hope to uncover interactions and IAs that keeps the users delighted and engaged.
Encouragement and motivation to be responsible
To bring about real change, we must begin to appreciate the ones who make it their moral responsibility to bring about change
Rich and accessible avenues to become upskill and be informed
Our goal bring users and co-create an experience that allows them to become more informed in the easiest way possible.
A trustworthy and reliable
tracking and schedule system
Achieving the mission of a sustainable future demands firm committment and strong support. We hope to enable that with understanding and trust.
Wireframe
Wireframe
These wireframes map out key user flows—scheduling, scanning, tracking, and guidance—helping us plan layout and functionality before moving into final designs.
These wireframes map out key user flows—scheduling, scanning, tracking, and guidance—helping us plan layout and functionality before moving into final designs.
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Our team conducted a Cognitive Walkthrough with 8 users, identifying 3 minor usability issues. Additionally, we administered the System Usability Scale (SUS) and achieved a score of 85, indicating high user satisfaction with the application. Three minor usability Issues that was identified was:
Our team conducted a Cognitive Walkthrough with 8 users, identifying 3 minor usability issues. Additionally, we administered the System Usability Scale (SUS) and achieved a score of 85, indicating high user satisfaction with the application. Three minor usability Issues that was identified was:
01
The ability to input the custom time and date for scheduling the pickup.
02
Option to clear all input fields at once when scheduling a pick-up for easy user convenience.
03
Option to abort the pick-up entirely with a single action if they change their mind.
High Fidility Design
High Fidility Design
Following the identification of solutions to encountered challenges, our efforts pivoted towards the creation of high-fidelity designs and prototypes.
Following the identification of solutions to encountered challenges, our efforts pivoted towards the creation of high-fidelity designs and prototypes.
Scheduling pick-up
Scheduling pick-up
Users should be able to schedule their trash pick-up at any time of the day, granting them freedom and encouragement.
Users should be able to schedule their trash pick-up at any time of the day, granting them freedom and encouragement.
Scanning object
Scanning object
Scanning an object enables users to discover the appropriate recycling method for it and consider reuse options if needed.
Scanning an object enables users to discover the appropriate recycling method for it and consider reuse options if needed.
Finding near by recycling Center
Finding near by recycling Center
If users wish to recycle any recyclable objects, they can conveniently locate the nearest recycling center.
If users wish to recycle any recyclable objects, they can conveniently locate the nearest recycling center.
Trash pick-up history
Trash pick-up history
Users have the capability to review their pick-up history, including both past and current schedules, with ability to edit providing them with a sense of control.
Users have the capability to review their pick-up history, including both past and current schedules, with ability to edit providing them with a sense of control.
Active method of skill development
Active method of skill development
Portrait videos deliver practical insights in an engaging format, while the interactive homepage motivates and encourages user participation.
Portrait videos deliver practical insights in an engaging format, while the interactive homepage motivates and encourages user participation.
User profile
User profile
Beyond points and badges, the app rewards positive actions with smooth animations, an engaging UI, and fun emoji showers to enhance user motivation.
Beyond points and badges, the app rewards positive actions with smooth animations, an engaging UI, and fun emoji showers to enhance user motivation.
Takeaway and Learning
Takeaway and Learning
In the end, we developed a streamlined and user-friendly app that effectively catered to the needs and preferences of our target audience.
In the end, we developed a streamlined and user-friendly app that effectively catered to the needs and preferences of our target audience.
🌀 What went Well
🌀 What went Well
Clear and concise project objectives
Thorough and effective user research and
design
Thorough and effective user research and design
Efficient and iterative prototyping methods
Capability to measure success using both
quantitative data and qualitative user feedback
Capability to measure success using both quantitative data and qualitative user feedback
✏️ What I learnt
✏️ What I learnt
Emphasis on user-centered design principles
The significance of transparent communication
and collaborative teamwork
The significance of transparent communication and collaborative teamwork
Recognition of the value of empathy
and understanding user needs
Recognition of the value of empathy and understanding user needs
The importance of integrating user feedback
into the design process
The importance of integrating user feedback into the design process
View my Other Projects
Let's join forces and create design magic!
Together, we'll make pixels dance and users smile.😎
Let's join forces and create design magic!
Together, we'll make pixels dance and users smile.😎