Eco Rewards: Smart Recycling for a Greener Nepal

🌱 Inspiration

Nepal faces a significant waste management crisis, with only 15% of recyclable waste being processed properly. Many people lack the motivation to recycle because traditional systems offer no direct incentives. We were inspired by successful reverse vending machines worldwide and wanted to create a localized solution using gamification and digital rewards to make recycling engaging and rewarding for everyone.

♻️ What It Does

Eco Rewards is a smart recycling vending machine that accepts plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and other recyclables. The system:

Scans and verifies deposited items.
Generates a QR code as proof of recycling.
Users scan the QR code via our app to earn points or cash.
Users accumulate points, maintain streaks, and compete on leaderboards.
Points can be redeemed via eSewa, Khalti, or mobile top-ups.

🛠️ How We Built It

Software:
- Mobile App (Flutter)
- Backend System (Laravel)
- Image Recognition (TensorFlow)

🚧 Challenges We Ran Into

Item Recognition Accuracy: Initially, the machine struggled to differentiate between recyclable and non-recyclable items. We trained the AI model with local waste data to improve accuracy.
Fraud Prevention: Users tried scanning QR codes multiple times, so we implemented one-time-use, time-limited QR codes.

🏆 Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

Successfully developed a working prototype that processes and rewards recyclables in real time.
Built an AI-based fraud prevention system that ensures fair usage.

📚 What We Learned

Gamification drives engagement: Users responded positively to leaderboards and streak rewards.
Local partnerships are crucial: Collaborating with waste management companies and municipalities is key for large-scale impact.
User experience matters: Simplifying the app interface and making the machine intuitive helped increase participation.
Sustainability must be scalable: We need cost-efficient and solar-powered machines to expand beyond urban areas.

🚀 What's Next for Eco Rewards?

Expand Recyclable Materials – Include glass, paper, and e-waste.
Deploy in High-Traffic Areas – Install machines in malls, schools, bus stations, and corporate offices.
Introduce Green Challenges – Monthly competitions where users can win extra rewards for top recycling efforts.
Corporate & Government Collaborations – Partner with brands, supermarkets, and the Nepalese government to scale nationwide.