Trisoul: Innovative Waste Management
The Trisoul trash bin by Recycletive
Littering is a major environmental problem, and plastic litter in particular is a significant contributor. According to the Washington Post, the United States is the world's top producer of plastic waste, with an estimated 42 million tons generated in 2016. This equates to about 287 pounds of plastic waste per person.
In Philadelphia, PA, plastic litter is significant. According to a report by the Philadelphia Streets Department, plastic made up about 22% of the litter on city streets in 2019. The negative consequences of plastic litter are numerous and well-documented. It can harm wildlife, pollute waterways, and take hundreds of years to break down in the environment.
Stephen and Harshita, two high schoolers from Philly, understand the importance of doing their part when it comes to properly disposing of trash, especially plastic, and set out to create a way to reduce litter in Philadelphia with their company Recycletive. Their first product, Trisoul, is an innovative city trash can that harnesses biodesign for the regeneration of the city.
Meet the Team
Stephen and Harshita are 18 year olds about to graduate from high school in Philadelphia.
Stephen is a veteran Aula Future student who has created biodesign projects like CWOF and is looking to go to college for engineering. Harshita is graduating from JR Masterman and has already been accepted to Temple University for bioengineering. Both discovered Aula through their schools and were looking for more experience in the theme of sustainable design.
Project conceptualization
During the Design for a Sustainable Future (dsf-2022) program, students learned the history of plastic, how it is made, and how it impacts our environment. Students also explored various approaches to achieving what we called a “post-petroleum future” and were exposed to ideas such as regenerative and circular design. Furthermore, we introduced biodesign as a possible solution. This included lessons and activities around biomaterials and microbiology.
To develop the idea for the company Recycletive and its first product, Trisoul, Stephen and Harshita began researching trends in littering and waste management in Philadelphia, PA. They discovered that the city spends millions of dollars each year to clean up litter, and that plastic litter is a particularly significant issue. They also noticed that there is often a lack of education about proper recycling and waste management, which can contribute to the problem of littering in the long run.
To further inform the development of Trisoul, they conducted field research by speaking directly with locals about their knowledge and attitudes around littering, the environment, and waste management. Through these conversations, the students gained valuable insights into the types of solutions that would be most effective in addressing the problem of littering in Philadelphia.
With this research in mind, Harshita and Stephen set out to synthesize their findings into an innovative product concept.
“What if we could create a locatable and automatic recycling trash can for a circular trash system?”
Trisoul by Recycletive
Inspired by Japan's highly effective trash system, which holds individuals accountable for their waste and teaches residents to properly dispose of items by washing them, removing labels, and folding cartons, the Trisoul trash bin aims to educate and empower individuals to take ownership of their waste.
One of the main goals of Trisoul was to make it accessible and convenient for Philadelphia locals. That's why the team decided to scatter the trashcans throughout the city and create an app that would allow people to easily locate the nearest Trisoul bin. Their app also includes educational features and activities that help to inform users about waste and the biological processes involved in decomposition.
Features of the Trisoul application
In order to make Trisoul as sustainable as possible, the team at Recycletive wanted the product to power itself. Inspired by their research on microbial fuel cells, they designed Trisoul to use anaerobic digestion to generate electricity. This means that the trashcans can operate independently, without the need for external power sources.
The final product is truly innovative and highly effective. It has three different compartments for plastic trash, organic trash, and miscellaneous trash, and a sensor that sorts incoming waste accordingly. It also has a screen that shares educational information and a clear panel that allows people to easily see the anaerobic digestion taking place inside the bin.
One of the most exciting aspects of Trisoul is its potential to create a circular system. The byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process can be utilized by other small businesses, turning waste into valuable resources. For example, organic waste can be used as fertilizer, and plastic waste can be recycled into new products.
Overall, Recycletive aims to create a regenerative product that not only improves its community and the environment but also helps to educate and empower individuals to take ownership of their waste and make a positive impact on the world.
Students experimenting with building a microbial fuel cell
Conclusion
Recyclative and its innovative Trisoul bin have the potential positive impact on the Philadelphia community. Developing a new ecosystem for waste management can help the population decrease the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and create a more sustainable future for everyone.
In addition to its environmental benefits, Trisoul also has the potential to regenerate its communities. As a large construction project, it would provide employment opportunities for a range of workers, from designers and engineers to construction workers and app developers, and one of its key features, its educational app, helps to inform and educate community members about proper waste management and the importance of reducing litter. This is an important step in creating a more sustainable future, as it empowers individuals to make a positive impact on the environment.
The next steps for Recyclative include researching plastic-eating bacteria that could be harnessed to decompose plastic trash thrown away in the Trisoul, researching ways to make the trash bin itself biodegradable or recyclable, and adding new products to create an eco-collection. By taking these steps, Stephen and Harshita believe that Trisoul has the potential to become a truly circular product that benefits both people and the planet.
Thank you!
Reference List
"U.S. is the world's top producer of plastic waste, and it's not even close." The Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/12/01/plastic-waste-ocean-us/.
Environmental Science & Technology: "Plastic Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal by Country" (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b05243)
Philadelphia Streets Department: "Litter Index Results" (https://www.philadelphiastreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Litter-Index-Results-2019.pdf)
