EcoGuard

Inspiration

I wanted to solve a problem that Nigerians face every day—waste pollution. Existing solutions felt either too expensive, imported, or focused only on monitoring without providing real impact. I aimed to create something cheap, efficient, and practical that could also contribute to solving climate change, not just observing it.

What it does

EcoGuard is an AI-powered smart bin that automatically detects and classifies waste, sorting it into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. Beyond that, it connects to a companion app that lets users monitor usage, track recycling progress, and view their direct impact on reducing landfill waste.

How we built it

The project combines embedded systems, robotics, and AI. A small on-device camera runs an object detection model, while the bin’s mechanical system handles waste sorting. Data from the bins is relayed to a digital platform where users can see real-time statistics and insights.

Challenges we ran into

We faced challenges with ensuring the AI model was lightweight enough to run efficiently on constrained hardware while still achieving accurate classification. Cost was another key factor—we had to carefully balance affordability with functionality to make it realistic for communities in Nigeria.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We successfully built a functional prototype that not only demonstrates waste sorting but also integrates with an app for transparency and user engagement. The project shows that impactful climate solutions can be built locally, affordably, and practically.

What we learned

We learned the importance of designing with the community in mind. Building for affordability, energy efficiency, and real-world usability requires a different mindset than just building for technical excellence.

What's next for EcoGuard

The next steps are to refine the hardware, improve the AI model for more waste categories, and scale the solution into real communities. We also aim to integrate data analytics to help policymakers understand waste patterns and make better climate-related decisions.

Built With

• c++
• edge-impulse
• esp32
• platformio