Project: Sustainable SolutionS for NYC Waste Management
Industry: Urban Sustainability · Public Design
Context: Design Thinking & Innovation (Team Project)
Date: MAY 2023
Location: GOOGLE, New York City
Role: Research · Ideation · Prototyping
Tools: Figma · 3D Printing (prototype)

Design Thinking and Innovation is a course that concentrates on creative problem-solving processes, which focuses on a user-centered approach to create a solution that is technologically and economically feasible.

We started with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and decided to focus on one crucial role for our local community, New York City, which is Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Overview:
Developed a user-centered solution for urban waste management using design thinking methodologies. The project focused on identifying gaps in NYC’s current waste infrastructure and proposing a feasible, scalable system informed by user research and rapid prototyping. The concept was selected for presentation at Google New York.

Situation:
New York City generates over 10,000 tons of waste daily, with outdated bin designs contributing to overflowing trash, rodent issues, and recycling challenges. Limited sidewalk space and accessibility constraints further complicate waste collection and sorting.

Solution:
As a team of four, we designed a standardized bin system with sealed lids and embedded sensors to signal when bins need servicing. We prototyped the concept using 3D printing and mapped how pressure-sensitive devices and transmitters could integrate into real-world workflows, aligning the solution with the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Sustainable Cities & Communities.