EcoSort

Inspiration

Before looking at the challenges, our team already knew we wanted to create something that promoted social good. We leaned toward environmental impact and started by talking about issues we noticed not only on campus but also in society as a whole. One problem that kept standing out was recycling. Many people don’t grow up learning proper recycling habits beyond recognizing the symbol on a bin. In reality, recycling is much more complex, involving different types of plastics, designated bins, and other details that often lead to mistakes. We began with this simple observation, and from there, the project grew into something bigger. Our goal is to make reducing waste easier and to encourage better, more consistent, and rewarding recycling habits for FIU students and the broader community.

What it does

Our app EcoSort makes sustainability simple by helping people build better recycling and donation habits. The app opens on a Scanner page, where users can take or upload a picture of an item. The system then categorizes it as recyclable or landfill, provides recycling tips, and suggests proper disposal methods. A history log keeps track of all scanned items so users can see their impact over time.

The Learn page helps tackle common recycling mistakes by sharing quick, easy-to-follow information. These tips also appear after a scan, giving users immediate feedback to prevent future errors.

To make recycling more rewarding, EcoSort introduces an incentive system. Inspired by bottle-deposit programs in other countries, users can earn rewards for certain items recycled or through company sponsorships.

EcoSort also goes beyond everyday trash. It helps address the challenge of disposing of large or unsafe items such as furniture, mattresses, and electronics. A built-in map feature shows nearby donation centers and specialized drop-off locations. For added convenience, users can choose between directions or arranging pickup services for a small fee.

By combining education, accessibility, and incentives, EcoSort makes it easier than ever to recycle correctly, donate responsibly, and feel rewarded, both emotionally and practically, for contributing to environmental activism.

How we built it

The app was developed using Vibe Code on the Base44 platform and later uploaded to GitHub for collaboration. Building EcoSort took several iterations of testing, credit usage, and brainstorming to balance having enough features while keeping the interface simple and user friendly. Our team brought together diverse skills in hardware, machine learning, Java, Python, C, and C++, and we had already worked together on a previous INIT Build project.

This experience made it easier to coordinate under time constraints and focus on showcasing our idea in a functional way. Looking ahead, we see opportunities to expand EcoSort with hardware integrations and location-based services to make it even more powerful.

Challenges we ran into

Like many hackathons, time was our biggest challenge. Coordinating everyone’s availability while working under a tight deadline was difficult, and we also ran into limitations with Base44’s premium features. These restrictions made it harder to bring all of our ideas to life and pushed us to explore alternative approaches. We realized that connecting hardware and expanding functionality would require code adjustments that weren’t possible during the event. In the end, we had to cut the hardware implementation and focus on fixing location and map issues within the app.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of the idea we developed and the way our team collaborated under pressure. We’re also excited about the innovative features we designed, especially the potential for hardware integration that could make EcoSort even more impactful in the future.

What we learned

This was our first time using Base44, and it gave us a glimpse into how quickly the tech world is changing and expanding. Along the way, we gained new skills in teamwork and problem-solving while learning how to adapt under pressure. Most importantly, we realized that in a world surrounded by AI, it’s human creativity, collaboration, and ideas that truly drive innovation forward.

What's next for EcoSort

We plan to expand EcoSort by adding hardware that locates nearby recycling bins and displays them on the map feature. An FIU-specific extension will offer campus-based recycling incentives, while partnerships with companies like Apple and Coca-Cola could provide rewards for donating electronics or returning bottles. In the future, we also envision gamification features, personal sustainability reports, and local business collaborations to make eco-friendly habits even more engaging and rewarding.