Smart Waste Management

A Smart Waste Management System that uses IoT-enabled bins and real-time monitoring to optimize waste collection, reduce costs, prevent overflow, a nd keep cities clean.

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Inspiration

We were inspired by the everyday problem of overflowing bins and uncollected waste in public places and campuses. Many people notice these issues but do not know whom to inform, where to report them, or whether action has been taken.

We wanted to use technology to make waste reporting easier, faster, and more transparent. We also added a points system and leaderboard to encourage students to participate in keeping their surroundings clean.

What It Does

Smart Waste Management allows users to report waste issues with a description, location, and image. Students can track their reports and earn points, while administrators manage reports, smart bins, users, and cleaning status through a dashboard.

How We Built It

We built the project as a full-stack web application.

  • Frontend: React, Vite, Tailwind CSS, and Axios.
  • Backend: Python and Flask for REST APIs and application logic.
  • Database: MongoDB with PyMongo for users, reports, smart bins, and points.
  • Authentication: JWT and bcrypt for secure login and role-based access.
  • Maps and Images: React Leaflet for locations and Cloudinary for image uploads.
  • Extra Features: Report-status tracking, bin fill-level monitoring, notifications, and a leaderboard.

Challenges We Ran Into

  • Frontend-backend integration: Connecting React with Flask APIs and handling errors.
  • Authentication and roles: Restricting student and admin features securely.
  • Report status tracking: Managing pending, verified, in-progress, and cleaned reports.
  • Map integration: Displaying accurate locations using latitude and longitude.
  • Image uploads: Storing and retrieving report images using Cloudinary.
  • Points system: Preventing duplicate points when report statuses change.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

  • Built a complete full-stack application using React, Flask, and MongoDB.
  • Created secure role-based authentication for students and administrators.
  • Implemented waste reporting, location tracking, image uploads, and status updates.
  • Added an interactive map for reports and smart-bin locations.
  • Developed a points-based leaderboard to encourage participation.
  • Built an admin dashboard for managing reports, users, and bins.

What We Learned

  • Full-stack development with React, Flask, and MongoDB.
  • REST API integration using Axios and Flask routes.
  • Secure authentication using JWT and bcrypt.
  • Database management for users, reports, smart bins, and points.
  • Role-based access control for student and admin users.
  • Map and image integration with Leaflet and Cloudinary.

What's Next for Smart Waste Management

  • IoT sensor integration for automatic bin fill-level detection.
  • Real-time notifications for full or overflowing bins.
  • AI-based waste classification from uploaded images.
  • Route optimisation for waste-collection vehicles.
  • Advanced analytics to identify high-waste locations.
  • A mobile app for easier reporting.

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