Bloo

Meet the team

A passionate group of Software Engineers on a mission to make a positive impact with our innovative app, Bloo. With Bloo, we're revolutionizing the way people interact with recycling.

Team members: Evan Lee (AI, UI/UX), Ni Shenghan (AI, UI/UX), Chew Jing Xiang (AI, SWE), Shao Liang (AI, SWE), Marin Bouthemy (AI, SWE)

Problem statement

In Singapore, recycling bin contamination poses a significant challenge to effective waste management and recycling efforts. Despite the presence of dedicated recycling bins (Bloobin), a large proportion of non-recyclable materials, such as food waste, electronic waste, and non-recyclable plastics, often end up in these bins. It has been shown that 7 in 10 households recycle regularly but half of them mistake non recyclables for recyclables and 7 in 10 are unsure of what materials can be recycled. This shows that while the public has the good intention to recycle, they are not well equipped with the knowledge to recycle right.

To shed some light into this, 40% of items placed in blue recycling bins are contaminated and cannot be recycled putting everyone’s recycling effort to waste. This contamination not only hampers the recycling process but also increases the cost and complexity of waste sorting and disposal, ultimately reducing the overall efficiency of recycling programs. Addressing this issue requires heightened public awareness through innovative solutions to reduce such occurrences.

Proposed solution

To tackle the issue of recycling bin contamination in Singapore, we propose an AI-powered chatbot solution that leverages computer vision and a large language model to guide users on proper recycling practices. This chatbot will allow users to input images or general queries of waste items, which it will analyze to differentiate between recyclable and non-recyclable materials, subsequently providing clear instructions on correct disposal methods.

Additionally, the chatbot will serve as an educational tool, offering information on recycling contamination and the sorting process, and assisting users with recycling-related queries. By enhancing public awareness and equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge to recycle correctly, we aim to significantly reduce contamination rates in recycling bins, improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Singapore's recycling programs.