Image Processing on Plastic Bottle Reverse Vending Machine to Enhance Community Plastic Waste Management

With the ever-increasing amount of waste disposal by mankind, the requirement for waste management is paramount. Apart from dumping waste in landfills, recycling is another popular solution adopted by the world to manage waste. As an effective collection mechanism of plastic waste, automatic recycle bins are employed in many countries in common places like subways and, malls. Furthermore, different rewarding mechanisms are in place to motivate the consumers to return the plastic waste. Reverse vending machines which encourage the collection of plastic waste and provide rewards are used in some countries. However, existing reverse vending machines lack features like separating plastic based on their plastic category. PET bottles and Yoghurt cups are some of the mostly disposed plastic containers in Sri Lanka. There are companies that use these types only to recycle and manufacture unique recycled products. This paper focuses on developing a reverse vending machine with plastic type sorting function to be used in the Sri Lankan context. The existing mechanisms were reviewed and a solution is designed to operate with Near-infrared (MR) plastic sorting and gravity transfer method. Furthermore, an appropriate rewarding mechanism is also proposed.

At present, there are many types of beverage packages such as cans and plastic bottles which lead to a large number of waste beverage cans. Furthermore, throwing beverage cans away without management tends to be an ineffective way to get optimal utilization of resources. Hence, the primary emphasis of this work is on the development of automatic sorting of beverage cans for reverse vending machines. In addition, the accuracy testing of sorting beverage cans by the machine was designed based on three techniques which are easy to implement and which will bring sustainable energy innovations with communities’ participation. There are two sampling groups of cans and plastic bottles in the experimental studies. The first group is the group which already has data in the system for using this in a prototype of sorting process. The latter one is the group without data in the system or which has never been used before.
 Furthermore, the reverse vending machine has two types of proximity sensors; inductive and capacitive which work together. The experimental results of sorting beverage cans and bottles on two sample groups show that the average accuracy of sorting is 99.20%. The sorting of beverage cans and bottles based on magnetic hinge and barcode provides an average accuracy of 79.20% and 50.00%, respectively. Classifying using the proximity sensor has the fastest operation with an average of 2.66 seconds, followed by barcode and hinge. Those takes 4.01 and 5.21 seconds, respectively.

The prevalence of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in beverage packaging has increased microplastic (MP) accumulation in the environment. MP can become a component of air pollution, especifically of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). Unfortunately, Thailand has a low recycling rate for plastic bottles, with only 4.5% being recycled. Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) were introduced in the early 2010s as a potential solution to this problem. RVMs incentivize recycling by providing rewards or refunds for each bottle deposited, thereby reducing the amount of PET waste and MP in the environment. This study analyzed usage and waste collection data from RVMs located at 15 locations of a hypermarket chain in Thailand from June 2020 to December 2022. The results showed that the average PET bottles collected from each machine was approximately 670 kg per year, which was lower than the break-even point of 3,200 kg per year. Economic feasibility indicators also suggested that the use of RVMs might not be economically sound. This study proposed suggestions to improve the business model of RVMs and offered policy recommendations to the government on how to enhance the effectiveness of RVMs.

Purpose: The paper presents outcomes of the qualitative research on the use of reverse vending machines (RVMs) as equipment to facilitate the segregation and disposal of beverage packaging in Poland, in comparison with other ways of selective waste collection. The topic of innovative tools to support waste management gains particular importance in the context of the introduction of the deposit system for packaging in Poland. Design/methodology/approach: Our qualitative research aimed at identifying consumer behaviour and preferences regarding the selective waste collection. Simultaneously we evaluated experiences with the RVMs and related incentive programs. The research technique was focus group interview, supported by perceptual mapping. 5 interviews were conducted with citizens of Malopolska & Silesia Provinces, in localities where recyclomats from the pilot program were installed. Findings: The results show positive attitudes towards the RVMs among participants of pilot testing of such devices. RVMs are perceived as easy-to-use and environmentally friendly. Compared to other methods of selective waste collection, the highest rated in terms of cost to the user and suitability for the user were the containers for segregated waste. When evaluating incentive systems, respondents accepted only financial benefits. It can be assumed that RVMs can support the newly introduced deposit system for beverage packaging in Poland. Research limitations: Most of the focus group participants had been familiar with RVMs from the pilot program, but the mobile app dedicated to the devices was inactive during the study. This affected the overall user experience. Practical implications: The outcomes suggest that the comprehensive waste collection and recycling system in Poland should be supported by RVMs, and that such devices should be popularized. Social implications: RVMs could play an important role in environmental education for children and young people. The dissemination of recyclomats by retail chains and local governments will increase their availability and influence the formation of pro-environmental behavior of other consumer groups. Originality/value: The originality of our study is based on identifying Polish individuals' views toward innovative waste management technologies and demonstrating their influence on sustainable consumption. Keywords: reverse vending machines, recyclomats, consumer behavior, selective waste collection, research, Poland. Category of the paper: research paper.

Collection of plastic bottles by reverse vending machine using object detection technique

To protect our planet, the material recycling of domestic waste is necessary. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the volume of domestic waste has surged overwhelmingly, and many countries suffered from poor waste management. Increased demand for food delivery and online shopping led to a huge surge in plastic and paper waste which came from natural resources. To reduce the consumption of resources and protect the environment from pollution, such as that from landfills, waste should be recycled. One of precious recyclable materials from household waste is liquid cartons that are made of high-quality paper. To promote sustainable recycling, this paper proposes a vision-based inspection module based on convolutional neural networks via transfer learning (CNN-TL) for collecting liquid packaging cartons in the reverse vending machine (RVM). The RVM is an unmanned automatic waste collector, and thus it needs the intelligence to inspect whether a deposited item is acceptable or not. The whole processing algorithm for collecting cartons, including the inspection step, is presented. When the waste is inserted into the RVM by a user after scanning the barcode on the waste, it is relocated to the inspection module, and the item is weighed. To develop the inspector, an experimental set-up with a video camera was built for image data generation and preparation. Using the image data, the inspection agent was trained. To make a good selection for the model, 17 pretrained CNN models were evaluated, and DenseNet121 was selected. To access the performance of the cameras, four different types were also evaluated. With the same CNN model, this paper found the effect of the number of training epochs being set to 10, 100, and 500. In the results, the most accurate agent was the 500-epoch model, as expected. By using the RVM process logic with this model, the results showed that the accuracy of detection was over 99% (overall probability from three inspections), and the time to inspect one item was less than 2 s. In conclusion, the proposed model was verified for whether it would be applicable to the RVM, as it could distinguish liquid cartons from other types of paper waste.

Improper waste disposal remains to be one of the most salient global environmental concerns. Consequential to economic growth and consumerism, the praxis of sustainability has become stunted as the amount of waste illicitly discarded continue to swell over the years, harming ecosystems, exacerbating global warming and aggravates human adversity. As such, the primary contributors for this concern are Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and cans, which are widely accessible and also extensively utilized for daily consumption. However, while many countries already have efficient waste management mechanisms in place, challenges regarding recycling efforts persist in afflicting developing countries including the Philippines. Considering this persistent and wide-scale issue, 'Bote-Cannected' is a reverse vending machine that was designed and built to encourage recycling by accepting both plastic bottles and cans for disposal. Delving on the design, Bote-Cannected's system utilized Arduino and Raspberry Pi technologies to automate the sorting and processing of items. Thereafter, the said machine was made to automatically segregate items one at a time, and assign points based on material type and size. Despite minor challenges linked to the design, durability, and overall functionality, 'Bote-Cannected' received high satisfaction ratings from users. Ultimately, its successful application showcased its strong potential in encouraging recycling behaviours and address pressing environmental concerns.

An investigation of the usability of sound recognition for source separation of packaging wastes in reverse vending machines

Modeling and Comparative Scenario - Based Simulation of SmartBottle+: An Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Powered Recycling Reward System versus Hungary’s Conventional Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs)

Plastic packaging in general, due to its significant generation, has been configured as an environmental problem, especially when associated with inadequate disposal. In this context, the objective of the present work was to analyze the strategies and the reverse logistics process employed for the production of post-consumer recycled PET (rPET) bottles of mineral water from a factory located in the city of Poland, Maine, the United States (US) and point out reverse logistics actions between Brazil and the US. Data for mapping the reverse logistics process were obtained from secondary data, available electronically. The production cycle begins with the consumer through the correct disposal of the bottle, preferably in the vending machines, allowing the recycling company to recycle the residue and enable the manufacture of pellets. The company under consideration uses pellets to manufacture new rPET bottles, promoting a circular economy. Regarding reverse logistics strategies, the use of water bottle label was identified as a means of communication to inform the proper way of disposal, and the reimbursement given to consumers when disposing of their packaging in reverse vending machines.

A few times a year, volunteers fan out along the causeway that links the South Carolina mainland with the seashore community of Folly Beach to clean up plastic bottles, straws, bags, and other debris from along the road and the salt marsh. Some of this debris has come from cities miles away. On windy days, litter is often blown off city streets into waterways. During rainstorms, debris floats into drains that empty into rivers. Other trash probably came from places closer to home. “I see bags and other plastic flying off the beds of pickup trucks going down the causeway,” says Marty Morganello, who organizes the cleanups for the Charleston-area chapter of the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation. “I see them coming out the open windows of cars and out the backs of garbage trucks and even recycling trucks. This material is lightweight, and if you don’t secure it, it will fly away.” By one estimate, the volume of plastic debris going into the world’s oceans could more than double by 2025, assuming current trends in coastal development and plastics use. Some countries have begun identifying ways to improve management of plastic ... Beach cleanups yield enormous amounts of trash, with plastic items a major constituent.1 Although the human health impacts of this marine plastic pollution remain poorly characterized, it is widely seen as an emerging problem that deserves much more research attention.2 Likewise, there is a growing urgency among industry, government, nongovernmental organizations, and environmental groups to develop tools and policies to track, capture, and recycle plastic waste before it reaches the ocean.

This study aims to design a community-based plastic waste management model specifically for Bangun Village, Mojokerto. Using a qualitative approach through a detailed case study, we gathered rich data from observations, interviews, and document reviews. Our findings reveal that the plastic waste management situation in Bangun Village is fraught with significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. These include inadequate waste segregation, limited recycling facilities, and a general lack of community awareness and participation. The proposed model seeks to address these issues by implementing several key components: community-based plastic waste collection and processing, educational programs to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices, partnerships with external stakeholders such as local government bodies, NGOs, and private sector entities, and institutional restructuring to support and sustain these initiatives. Central to this model is the belief that community education and awareness are crucial foundations for fostering sustainable behavior. By actively involving the community in the waste management process, the model not only aims to mitigate the plastic waste problem but also seeks to provide economic and social benefits to the residents of Bangun Village. This includes creating job opportunities, improving public health, and enhancing the overall quality of life. The strength of this model lies in its ability to integrate community participation, policy support, and external partnerships, making it a robust and effective solution for sustainable plastic waste management. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach, the model aims to create a sustainable and resilient community that can effectively tackle the plastic waste challenge while reaping economic and social benefits. In conclusion, the community-based plastic waste management model proposed for Bangun Village has the potential to bring about significant positive changes in the way plastic waste is managed. Through this model, we hope to empower the community to contribute to solving the plastic waste problem while also benefiting economically and socially.

The problem of plastic bottle waste is still a big challenge for Riau Province, including the Sedinginan, which is one of the villages traversed by the Rokan river. Plastic bottle waste from households along the Rokan river is disposed of in the river, so that the volume of waste in the river is increasing. Reprocessing plastic bottle waste is an effort to avoid environmental pollution by plastic waste. Through creativity, plastic bottle waste can be recycled into a minimalist sofa that has economic value. This Community Service was carried out by means of training on processing plastic bottle waste into minimalist sofas for PKK Sedinginan. The purpose the activity is to provide them with knowledge and skills on how to process plastic bottle waste into minimalist sofas. The implementation method is by conducting counseling and training to PKK mothers. The result of the activity was an increase in the knowledge and skills of PKK women on how to process plastic bottle waste into goods of economic value. Based on the activities that have been carried out, it can be concluded that there must be ongoing training in plastic waste management, not only in the form of plastic bottles but also other plastics produced from household waste so that people have skills in managing waste.

The vision of this study is geared towards the exploitation of waste plastic bottle use in construction. This review paper is centers on the recycling of waste plastic bottles as a construction material as an effort to help solve the housing deficit in most developing countries including Ghana and to save the depletion of natural resources construction materials. In Ghana, plastic wastes are discarded randomly after usage, hence scatter around in cities, choking drains, and end up threatening our ecosystem. These predominant effects from the plastic wastes have necessitated the need for countries precisely developing countries including Ghana to seek more sustainable methods to reduce the drastic amount of plastic wastes in the environment. In view of the above, this paper focused on the recycling of waste plastic bottles as a construction material as an effort to solve the housing deficit in most developing countries including Ghana and to save the depletion of natural resources construction materials (stones and sand) are very much critical. In the reviews, an effort has been made to utilize the waster plastic bottles in construction by filling the bottles with soil, sand, solid waste materials as brick or block bounded with mortar as a masonry wall or the filled bottles are used as a substitute for the production of the masonry unit production. In summary, it was concluded based on varying test result that: (1) Plastic waste bottles are cheaper to acquire than most conventional construction materials and as such concrete or brick containing any amount of plastic bottle is noted to reduce the total quantities of conventional materials required, thereby reducing the cost as well. (2) The use of plastic waste bottles in construction contributes to environmental friendliness and energy savings since buildings with walls constructed of plastic bottles maintains room temperatures and contribute to energy saving and the cost of providing an artificial thermal control system. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-03091616 Full Text: PDF

At present, plastic is a material that is needed by the community at large, where the impact is also very extraordinary after the plastic is used in everyday life which can cause serious problems if the management is not done properly. The problem of plastic waste does not only occur in the city of Semarang, but also in other cities, so that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has implemented a paid plastic bag program in the short term. But this is only to deal with problems in the short term. In the long run, it will not solve the problem of "plastic waste", because the policy actually encourages people to buy plastic which, of course, will add a new burden for the community to buy it. Based on the above problems, it is necessary to utilize this plastic waste to be made into road pavement materials such as in the manufacture of Asphal Concrette Wearing Course, by making 5 mixed variations ranging from (2 to 10)% of the weight of the aggregate . This research was initiated through a survey process, material procurement, testing of stacking materials, making test specimens, testing specimens. The results of the research can show that the type of Thermosetting plastic waste has a significant influence on the Asphalt Concrete mixture AC-WC heat mixture, including: Density, Marshall Stability, Flow, VIM, VMA, MQ and the remaining Marshall Stability tend to show an increase, moderate VFA and VIMrefusal Density values tend to show a decrease. Thus the plastic waste from the Thermosetting type can be used as a partial replacement of the aggregate for the Asphalt Concrete mixture AC-WC heat mixture with a plastic waste content is limited to a maximum of 10% and at an optimum asphalt content of 5.55%. Thus this research is expected to be of benefit to the industry and the people of Semarang in relation to the use of plastic waste for road pavement.