BinGo

Have you ever walked around for 20 minutes with a plastic wrapper, desperately in search of a trash can / recycling bin? WELL NO MORE! BinGo will help you find the bin you need TODAY!!!!! (Wow)

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Inspiration

I was walking around with a water bottle in Mexico for about 20 minutes because I wanted to toss it but did not want to litter. Thinking back on that anecdote while brainstorming lead me to realize that the BinGo app is exactly what I wish I had back then!

What it does

BinGO is a web app that uses the user’s location to find nearby trash cans, recycling points, and water fountains. Its backend API sends the user’s coordinates to OpenStreetMap/Overpass to retrieve nearby amenities, then displays them on an interactive map and list. Users can select an amenity and open walking directions in a maps app such as Google Maps or Apple Maps.

BinGO also includes a Google Gemini-powered sorting assistant. If a user is unsure whether an item is recyclable, trash, compostable, or requires special disposal, they can enter a text description or provide a photo, and the assistant gives a practical recommendation with preparation steps and local-rule notes.

How we built it

  • Frontend: TypeScript, React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS
  • Backend: TypeScript, Next.js API Routes
  • Map Data: OpenStreetMap + Overpass API
  • AI Scanner: Google Gemini API
  • Deployment: Vercel

Challenges we ran into

For locations without populated OpenStreetMap information about bins, naturally there will be no bins initially. But because of this we have the feature to add bins for future access, and you can leave a note, so if it is water bottles only, or maybe if you find a water fountain with crisp cool water.

What's next for BinGo

Actual databases, as currently it just saves the data for amenities locally on your browser.

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