Inspiration
We created EcoScan because we realized that a lot of people want to recycle but aren't always sure what goes where. Different materials have different disposal rules, and it can be confusing to know whether something belongs in the recycling bin, trash, or a special drop-off location. We wanted to make recycling easier by letting AI do the hard work.
What it does
EcoScan is a mobile app that helps users identify everyday waste items using AI. Users can take a picture or upload an image, and the app analyzes it to identify the object. It then provides information such as the material, whether it's recyclable, the correct disposal method, decomposition time, and helpful environmental facts.
If the AI can't confidently identify an item, users can manually describe it to still receive guidance.
How we built it
We built EcoScan using React Native with Expo so it could run on mobile devices. We integrated Google Cloud Vision AI to recognize objects from images and created our own recycling database to provide disposal instructions and environmental information. We also used AsyncStorage to save usernames and scan counts so users have a more personalized experience.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges was turning AI image recognition into useful recycling advice. While Google Cloud Vision can identify objects, it doesn't explain how to dispose of them. We had to build a system that connects detected objects with recycling information while also handling situations where the AI wasn't confident.
We also spent a lot of time making the app easy to use by designing a clean interface, handling camera permissions, and making sure image uploads and analysis worked smoothly.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We're proud that we were able to build a complete working application that combines AI with sustainability. Seeing the app successfully recognize waste items and provide useful recycling information was a big milestone for our team. We're also happy with the overall user experience and how polished the final product turned out.
What we learned
This project gave us hands-on experience working with React Native, integrating cloud-based AI services, and designing an application that solves a real-world problem. We also learned how important it is to think about both the technical side of AI and the user experience.
What's next for EcoScan
In the future, we'd like to add support for location-based recycling rules, barcode scanning, recycling symbol detection, nearby recycling center recommendations, and an AI assistant that can answer follow-up questions about waste disposal and sustainability.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.