Inspiration
Waste sorting is a daily task, yet many people are unsure which items go into which bags. These small mistakes can contaminate entire recycling or compost loads. We wanted to help people make the correct decision at the moment of disposal and extend that guidance to evaluating full garbage bags, which is what waste management teams actually collect.
What it does
- EcoSort is a web app that helps households sort waste correctly and gives waste management teams visibility into sorting quality.
- Users can scan individual items to learn the correct bin and bag color, submit photos of filled garbage bags, receive a quality score with clear explanations, view weekly summaries, and earn simple performance points.
- Management can view households by house number, see bag counts and average scores, and use this information to support pickup decisions.
How we built it
The app was built as a web application with two role-based views: user and management. Users create simple profiles using their name and house number, avoiding complex authentication. Bag quality scores are generated using transparent, rule-based logic focused on clarity rather than perfect accuracy.
The public version runs in demo mode on GitHub Pages, while full AI functionality runs in the development environment to keep API keys secure.
Challenges we ran into
Managing application state across user sessions was a key challenge, as images and results initially persisted after logout. Deployment was also challenging since GitHub Pages does not support backend logic, requiring a clear separation between demo and live environments.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- Building a system that evaluates both individual items and full garbage bags
- Creating clear, actionable feedback instead of vague sustainability messaging
- Delivering a polished, demo-ready app under hackathon constraints
What we learned
We learned that usability and clear feedback matter more than technical complexity. Honest system design, clear limitations, and good state management are essential for building reliable sustainability tools.
What's next for EcoSort
Future work includes city-specific sorting rules, improved image recognition, persistent storage, and deeper integration with waste management workflows.
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