Design as well as Research of Intelligent Trash Can Based on Infrared Sensing

Abstract

This paper presents a smart trash-can prototype that tackles the inefficiency of manual waste separation by embedding low-cost infrared sensors above a rotating, multi-compartment drum. Each discarded object is first scanned for its unique thermal signature; a micro-controller then identifies the material, spins the drum to the correct partition and drops the item without human contact. Colored slight-emitting diode (LED) and short audio cues give users real-time feedback, turning sorting into an intuitive game. Controlled trials with common household samples—plastic bottles, banana peels, aluminium cans—achieved high classification accuracy and rapid response time, outperforming both conventional bins and untrained volunteers. Power draw remains modest, allowing long operation on a small battery. The study demonstrates that infrared-based automation can deliver reliable, low-maintenance sorting at the point of disposal, offering municipalities a practical, scalable route to cleaner streets, higher recycling rates and more sustainable cities. Its open blueprint lets any community replicate and refines the loop, turning every alley into a quiet driver of the circular economy.