Automated Plastic and Paper-Detecting Garbage Bin

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Information dissemination of proper waste disposal has been done innumerable times but statistics still show as if no effort has been exerted to address garbage disposal in the country. The main goal of the study is to create an automatically-opening garbage bin with capacitive sensors that detect paper and plastics. The study aims to provide ease to the segregation and collection process of garbage. Specifically, it answered questions concerning the capacitive sensor's ability to detect plastic and paper. Further, the study tried to find out if there is a significant difference in the response time of the device in detecting each garbage sample and which set-up is most effective and efficient (E&E) in detecting paper and plastic.

METHODS

The components specifically the Arduino board, Servo motor, capacitive sensor, photo sensor, and power supply were connected on the breadboard according to its corresponding pinouts and were programmed usingArduino. The device was assembled carefully inside the housing without removing the wires and pins. An Oscilloscope was used to test the efficiency of the device by recording the exact response time upon detecting samples. Each garbage material of each set-up was tested ten times using the oscilloscope. Analysis of Variance and t-test were used to find out if a significant difference exists on the response time of the device upon detection of garbage samples in all trials.

RESULTS

The result showed that the numerical differences in the response time of the device upon detecting paper and plastic samples in the two setups ranged from 0.5 to 1 Âμsecond only. Using t-test and Analysis of Variance, it was found that there is no significant difference in the response time among all trials since the calculated p-value is always greater than the 0.05 level of significance. The efficiency of the device is consistent in 10 trials conducted for each garbage sample in each setup. One capacitive sensor is as effective as s capacitive sensors.

DISCUSSIONS

The Oscillation test confirmed the E & E of the prototype paper and plastic-detecting garbage bin. The no significant difference in all tests signifies that though the number of trials for detection and response is increased, the efficiency remains almost constant. If on the other hand, a significant difference exists on the response time among trials conducted, then the E&E of the device is questionable which could entail low quality and the possibility of being damaged soon.