Trash to Tech: AI Smart Bins Building Sustainable Communities

Content and Engagement Introduction (10 min) - Present the challenge of waste separation in public spaces. - Share examples of recycling issues in communities and the role of smart cities. - Engage participants with a quick poll: “What’s the biggest challenge in recycling in your context?” Exploring Tools & Concepts (15 min) - Demonstrate how Google Teachable Machine can be trained to recognize recyclable items. - Show prototypes in Arduino for paper cutting and PET melting into filament. - Audience activity: try a pre-trained Teachable Machine demo on their own devices to classify objects. Design Process Workshop (25 min) - Participants work in small groups to sketch their own “smart bin” ideas. - Use provided templates to outline features (identification, reward system, sustainability impact). - Peer-to-peer exchange: groups share their design challenges and brainstorm improvements. Reward Systems & Community Impact (15 min) - Present models of digital reward systems (points, tokens, local government incentives). - Short discussion: “How could a reward system engage your own community?” - Audience creates a quick draft of a reward mechanism using collaborative digital boards (e.g., Jamboard/Miro). Showcase & Reflection (15 min) - Groups present their smart bin designs in 2–3 minutes. - Facilitated reflection: How do these designs prioritize authentic experiences and empower agency? - Closing insights on replicability: how to adapt this project in schools, communities, and local governments. Process & Engagement Tactics - Peer-to-peer interaction: Group work on bin design sketches, sharing prototypes, and feedback. - Device-based activities: Teachable Machine demo, Arduino video demos, collaborative Jamboard/Miro. - Gamified interaction: Polls, challenges, and reward system simulation. - Hands-on engagement: Prototyping exercise where participants connect technology, sustainability, and community impact.

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- Google Teachable Machine - Arduino IDE - Miro or Jamboard account - Tinkercad / Fusion 360