Development of a Consumer-Engaged Recycling Tracking and Guidance Mobile Application

The client faces difficulties in motivating consumers to adopt proper recycling practices, accurately track plastic waste from manufacture through to recycling, and increase participation in sustainable waste management processes. Lack of transparency and consumer engagement limits the effectiveness of current recycling methods and hampers the development of a circular plastic economy.

A mid-sized organization aiming to promote sustainable recycling practices by empowering consumers through technology, with a focus on tracking plastic waste from production to recycling and encouraging proper waste separation.

• Design and develop a mobile application that enables consumers to scan and identify unique product codes on plastic packaging.
• Educate users on optimal recycling procedures through integrated guidance.
• Enable users to select convenient collection or drop-off options for their recycled plastic waste.
• Implement comprehensive tracking of plastic waste from consumer to recycling facility, providing real-time updates and notifications.
• Achieve high engagement levels, aiming for at least 58% of tagged products being properly recycled, as benchmarked in prior pilots.
• Support a scalable solution capable of extending to national deployment across various communities.

• Code Scanning Module: Enable users to scan unique product codes on plastic packaging to initiate tracking and education.
• Recycling Guidance System: Provide step-by-step instructions on proper preparation of plastic waste, including rinsing and removal of labels or caps.
• Waste Collection Integration: Offer options for scheduling collection or returning waste to participating retailers or community centers.
• Traceability Dashboard: Track recycled plastic from initial collection to processing at the recycling facility and notify users upon successful recycling.
• User Engagement Analytics: Collect data on user interactions and recycling patterns to inform future improvements and increase adoption.

• Product code database for verifying and retrieving product-specific recycling instructions
• Collection scheduling and logistics management systems
• Recycling facility tracking APIs for real-time waste processing status
• Notification and messaging services for user engagement

• App should support at least 10,000 concurrent users with minimal latency
• System uptime target of 99.9% availability
• Data privacy compliance (e.g., GDPR) to protect user information
• Rapid response for code scans and user interactions, with a target latency of under 2 seconds
• Scalable infrastructure to support nationwide rollout and increased user activity

The implementation of this mobile recycling tracking and guidance platform aims to significantly improve consumer participation in proper plastic waste management, targeting at least 58% of recycled plastic being correctly sorted and disposed of. The solution is expected to facilitate a transition toward a circular plastic economy, increase recycling rates, and generate valuable data insights to optimize waste management processes. This scalable approach has the potential to impact thousands of households nationwide, promoting sustainable habits and environmental stewardship.