An Environmental Improvement Program For Incentive Based Recycling

1. An Environmental Improvement Program For Incentive Based Recycling The Trash Masters Zach Leatherman Travis Stubbendeck Tom Yarmer

2. Contents 1 System Overview 2 Design Objectives 3 Technical Overview 4 Assumptions and Limitations 5 Testing 6 Cost 7 Status 8 Future Options

3. 1.0 System Overview • 139 Million Americans • 50% Take Advantage • 1/3 of eligible material • Existing Recycling Programs: • Single Stream • Pay as You Throw (PAYT)

4. 1.1 System Overview Consumer Recyclables RFID Tagged Bin Return Incentive $$$ Collection Vehicle Determine Value Weigh Material Preliminary Sort

5. 1.2 System Overview • Four Specific Modules • ID Module: Receptacle identification • Sort Module: Preliminary sorting of materials • Weight Module: weigh sorted material • Comm. Module: software and hardware for communication and storage of data, including the web site.

6. 1.3 System Overview • Benefits to: Collection Agencies Consumer Municipalities

7. 2.0 Design Objectives • Guidelines in which the project must adhere to properly fit the specifications. • Accuracy • Usability • Adaptability

8. 2.1 Design Objectives • Accuracy • RFID: Tags must be read accurately to properly identify each consumer. • Conveyor Belt: Must have a high level of accuracy to ensure the weights of various materials for proper incentive. • Weight Sensor: Needs to be precise so that a proper amount of money is refunded to each consumer.

9. 2.2 Design Objectives • Usability • Weight Sensor Automation: The sensor are automatically monitored so that the data is logged without the collection agent being required to interact with it. • Wireless Transfer: The Ebox automatically upload all of the collected data to the central server.

10. 2.3 Design Objectives • Adaptability • RFID Tagged Receptacles: The ability to re-use existing curbside receptacles by just placing an RFID tag on them. • Web Interface: Customer web interface can easily be changed to each company’s needs. • Collection Vehicles: Existing collection vehicles to be outfitted with a conveyor belt.

11. 3.0Technical Overview Overview

12. Conveyor Belt • Small work of art • Neoprene 10 inches wide • 4, 3inch diameter PVC pipes • 1/15 horsepower motor • Geared slower • Magnetic Head Pulley

13. Magnetic Head Pulley Legend Ferrous Material Non-Ferrous Material

14. RFID Reader • PCProx from RFIdeas • Connected to EBox through USB • 1 to 3 inch range • LED mounted on top to ensure tag is read every time • Trash Receptacles could be designed to ensure tag is read

15. Mobile Unit / EBox • Runs Mobile Control program • Windows CE • Program written in C# • Microsoft SQL Server • 32MB of Flash memory • Headless

16. HandyBoard • 6811 Microcontroller system • Used for analog to 8-bit digital conversion • Runs simple program that continuously reads weight from 2 load cells • Outputs through RS232 Serial port

17. Central Server • Receives data from EBox through 802.11G Wireless signal • Microsoft Windows XP • Microsoft SQL Server Express • Apache Server • Runs web interface and billing system

18. 4.0Assumptions and Limitations • Small Scale • Conveyor belt 1/3 width as in collection vehicle • Magnets could be bigger or stronger for better seperation. • RFID Reader • Could be at 100% accuracy with controlled lifting mechanism from the collection vehicle (assuming lifting mechanism comes standard with vehicle)

19. 4.1 Assumptions and Limitations • Cost • The cost might not be viewed as worthwhile without government or city subsidizing our recycling efforts. • This argument remains valid due to energy saved from recycling vs. making new material • Aluminum • Eddy currents: This process may be utilized post-ferrous seperation. But, has not yet been implemented in the Recycle Nation program.

20. B C D E A D, E. Dog Food (1.6 oz) C. Generic (1.2 oz) B. Chicken of the Sea (0.8 oz) A. Clam Chowder (2.8 oz) 5.0Separation Testing

21. 5.1Separation Testing Results Possible Outcomes := {Hit, ½ Hit, Miss} Vertical Test Horizontal Test

22. 5.3Separation Testing Tweaks • Placement of Bins • Separator to act as crutch for ferrous material • Conveyor Operation Speed: 11 – 12 inches per second

23. 6.0Cost • Wood Supplies for Conveyor Frame $37.41 • Conveyor Belting and Lacing $60.72 • Miscellaneous Conveyor Supplies $70 • Magnets $48.25 • Load Cells (x2) $110 • RFID Readers $189 • 20 RFID Tags $59 • Wireless Bridge for EBox $79.99 • Domain Name (recyclenation.org) $9.95 • Total $664.32

24. 6.1Cost • Conveyor Belt • Price of fabricating a stand for the belt would not be valid due to placing it inside of the conveyor belt. • RFID Tags • Much cheaper if bought in bulk • Reader, Load Cells, and Magnets • Prices would stay relatively the same.

25. 7.0Status • ID Module: • The RFID reader correctly reads and accurately reports tag identification numbers. • Sort Module: • Conveyor belt seperates ferrous from non-ferrous materials. • Weight Module: • Load cells being run from a HandyBoard and attached to the two containers on the belt. • Comm. Module: • Website: http://www.recyclenation.org • Load Cell and RFID Software are also operational

26. 8.0Future Options • Dynamic Web Upload • Data Mining • Eddy Current – Aluminum Seperation • More Robust web interface with different levels of control

27. Questions ?