We have made a working model called the Waste Segregator using Arduino. It can separate the waste into Magnetic, Dry and Wet category. You can use this idea for BTech Final year Project or in your school/college science fair.

I've included the working, coding, modelling and logic of the project in the video below and have tried my best to explain how we made this. So please check it out as well : https://youtu.be/VRlDUHwc2F4

Project Overview

The "Waste Segregator" is a smart environmental engineering project designed to automate the initial stage of waste management. By using an Arduino and a suite of sensors, this prototype can autonomously identify and sort waste into three distinct categories: Magnetic (Metallic), Wet, and Dry. This is an excellent project for science fairs or engineering capstone projects, demonstrating practical solutions for sustainability.

Core Hardware Components

• Arduino UNO: The central processing unit that coordinates sensor data and controls motor movements.
• HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensors (x2): Used to detect the presence of an object on the sorting platform and trigger the segregation sequence.
• Soil Moisture Sensor: Repurposed here to detect "Wet" waste. When an object contains moisture, it increases the conductivity across the sensor's probes.
• Button Magnet: Integrated into the sorting mechanism to physically attract and separate magnetic metallic waste.
• SG90 Micro-Servo Motor: This motor acts as the "sorting arm," physically pushing or rotating the waste into the correct bin based on its classification.
• DC Motors (12V): Typically used to drive a conveyor belt system that brings the waste to the sensing station.
• 16x2 Alphanumeric LCD: Provides real-time status updates, displaying the category of each detected item and total waste counts.

Technological Logic and Workflow

The segregation process follows a structured logic path:

1. Pre-Sensing: An item travels down a platform or conveyor. The first ultrasonic sensor detects its arrival.
2. Magnetic Test: As the item passes the magnetic station, metallic objects are deflected or trapped by the button magnet.
3. Moisture Sensing: The item reaches the moisture sensor probes. The Arduino reads the analog value; if the conductivity is high, the item is classified as "Wet."
4. General Categorization: If neither magnetism nor moisture is detected, the item is categorized as "Dry."
5. Physical Sorting: The Arduino sends a specific PWM signal to the Servo Motor. The servo rotates to a designated angle (e.g., 0°, 90°, or 180°) corresponding to the bin for that category.
6. Data Feedback: The LCD screen updates with the result, ensuring the user can monitor the system's performance.

Practical Impact

Automated segregation increases the efficiency of recycling processes by reducing human exposure to hazardous materials and improving the purity of sorted waste streams. This project provides a scalable foundation for larger, industrial-scale waste management systems.