Automated waste sorting at the point of disposal using edge AI camera recognition.

A sustainability-focused consumer brand creating a smart recycling bin for kitchen use with automated waste categorization.
Accurate real-time classification of household waste into recyclable/compost/landfill categories using a low-power MCU, with instantaneous mechanical sorting.
The Nordic nRF52840 Cortex-M4F MCU powers the system. An OV2640 camera captures the item when dropped, and three servo-driven bin flaps sort into separate compartments. PIR sensor wakes the system from deep sleep only when in use.
We trained a MobileNetV1 SSD model on 15,000 household waste images. The model was INT8 quantized to 380KB and runs entirely on the nRF52840 using TensorFlow Lite Micro. Classification triggers servo rotation within 800ms. A Bluetooth LE companion app provides monthly recycling statistics and tips.
94% correct classification across 30 common waste categories. Power consumption averages 50µA in standby. Users reported 40% reduction in recycling contamination.
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