Iconic Design for Centralized Bin (Conceptual Design)
In this engineering project entry, I present a comprehensive analysis of the existing recycling system in the Bath BA1 area and its shortcomings. Our team outlines the methodology employed to fulfill the project’s requirements and specifications. The innovative design solution, dubbed ‘Kiosk,’ features a unique bin concept that serves as both a waste receptacle and a recycling center. The report also showcases the preliminary sketches and the final iconic design, including its sorting mechanism to ensure proper waste segregation and prevent contamination. Lastly, the report addresses the feasibility of the proposed design, providing answers to the common questions that arise during the implementation of a new recycling system
Domestic garbage and recycling materials are collected on a weekly basis from residents’ doorsteps in Bath. On a UNESCO World Heritage City, different coloured boxes in the streets are unattractive. Waste is commonly collected in central containers that are emptied at regular intervals or when they are full in other places. In 2020, the official recycling rate for “trash from households” in England was 44.0 percent, down 1.5 percentage points from 45.5 percent in 2019 . In 2020, metal recovered and then recycled from waste that had been incinerated (IBA metal) increased the recycling rate by 1.0 percentage points, compared to 0.9 percentage points in 2019 . The aim of this project is to design a new centralized rubbish collection system for the BA1 postcode. To address the problem, the double diamond framework was used. A brainstorming session was performed, to discover as many different bin solutions as possible. Then, the 4 most feasible solutions were researched and suitable solutions for each postcode sector in the BA1 postcode district were defined. It was decided that in the rural area’s doorstep collection would continue, with centralized bins being introduced for villages and hamlets. For the rest of BA1, centralized bins will be introduced. For the majority of areas, these bins will be over-ground, but in central areas where street space may be limited, underground solutions may be needed. Designs combining Bath’s traditional Roman architecture or British heritage design, such as post boxes and phone booths, will be employed in central places where visual appeal is particularly important. Bath is the only city in the United Kingdom with a complete World Heritage Site designation. Due to its Roman ruins, thermal springs, eighteenth-century architecture, eighteenth century town planning, social setting, and landscape setting, the city was designated by UNESCO as a cultural site of outstanding universal value and cultural importance in 1987.
The lower the frequency of bin collections, the higher the recycling rate — this is true for both dry recycling and compost. Collection methods are also crucial. Recycling rates are affected by container size and the number of different types of materials collected. Unsurprisingly, the higher the level of recycling, the more materials collected at the curb side. Waste production, dry recycling (glass, paper, cardboard), and green recycling (compost waste) are all interconnected, thus analysis must take them all into account.
The amount of waste created, and their classification is very important in the case of recycling since mixing or contamination of materials can lead to failure in recycling. So, the idea for an easy sorting mechanism was introduced along with the novel design of the Centralized iconic design.
The Somerset council has a Residential design guideline based on a number of factors including ease to collect the garbage and space for pedestrians. Room should be built into each home to provide for easy recycling box storage. If the wheeled bins are to be kept at the front of the house permanently, a suitable enclosure should be built in an accessible but unobtrusive location (this may require planning permission depending on the size). If the storage room is enclosed, all doors should be double and open outwards to allow at least 2 meters of unobstructed space. The entrance doors should have a minimum height of 1.8 meters to provide residents and workers easy access. Any enclosure should be tall enough to allow the bin lids to open completely without moving the bins.
In most new residential complexes (except flats), every family should be provided with a single 180-litre wheeled bin, two recycling bins, and a food waste caddy. The common storage facility should be secured (at a minimum height of two meters to give adequate cover) and placed on a non-porous surface to facilitate cleaning. Refer to the illustration. A minimum clearance of 150mm is required around all sides of communal storage bins, and they should be placed side by side so that residents are not inconvenienced when accessing other bins. There should be a clear separation of waste in mixed-use developments such as business, leisure, or residential schemes to ensure that commercial garbage does not enter the household waste stream.
Requirements
A number of specifications were created in order to scope the project. The following are both logistical and practical guidelines :
• Bins should be located no more than 250 meters from the property line.
• 250m is a reasonable walking distance, eliminating the need for each household to have its own bins. As a minimum, separation of recyclables and black bag garbage to the same degree as the current system, ensuring infrastructure continuity after pickup.
• Residents will have 24/7 access to the new system, providing for a smooth transition. Working/busy residents who may have missed collection periods will not be discriminated against because of this unlimited access.
• Collection vehicles have 24/7 access, minimizing and ideally avoiding road blockage by implementing a trash fill level system. Vehicles collect rubbish only when bins are full and at appropriate times, not to cause traffic congestion.
• In terms of noise and odor, neither the bins nor the collection should bother homeowners. According to federal regulations, noise levels should not exceed 34 dB [8].
• Street furniture standards and UNESCO principles should be observed as a default so that the surrounding environment is not polluted. This is to ensure that the city’s UNESCO heritage status is preserved and that no laws are broken. Following UNESCO criteria, the Bath-specific system should mix in with local architecture and not look out of place.
• Constructed on public ground, making implementation simple and avoiding arguments over private property.
- Operating costs are similar after the initial investment to assure system sustainability and ease changeover.
Based on the volume capacity of the current bin we can determine the design requirement for the new centralized bin. When we enquired a communal apartment (The Porter, 16 George St, Bath BA1 2EN) we were able to find that they use 8 large bins (1100 lts) which holds 65Kgs per bin. The 8 bins include all four coloured bins. The population of the apartments is 150 people. For each bin type there must be a minimum capacity of 1100 liters set as the specification.
Initial concepts
The initial concept for the design was Deposit return scheme. In actuality, integrating DRS into BA1 might be challenging. Return point locations may be tough to come by, as supermarkets will be hesitant to give up their already restricted space. Defra also stated on February, 2019, that a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers will be implemented in England by 2023 . As a result, DRS is not included in this project’s scope. The designs were meant to be for small load of recyclable materials, these were like the small bins that you find across the street around bath. The objective was to come up with a design that doesn’t compromise the scenic beaty of bath. Since bath had a huge influence on roman architecture, we thought of having the theme of roman columns placed instead of the bins. These Roman pillars however are not built of marble as they are meant to be. Five primary orders (or types) of columns were used in classical Greek and Roman architecture, cut from single blocks, or built from stacks of enormous stone blocks . Columns, generally huge and round, were employed to embellish and support vast constructions in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, especially in the absence of arches. Columns in Eastern architecture are often modest in design but lavishly ornamented. The bases and capitals of supporting stone columns were employed as places for detailed carving by Gothic and Romanesque craftsmen. Marble columns with sinuous carvings were frequently used in Baroque designs. The majority of modern columns are built of iron, steel, or concrete and are simple in form. The first design that was sketched was the Ionic scroll which had a structure similar to a circular helix shape on each side of the column.
Note: The above image is for illustration purposes only and not for commercial use.
The problem with this design was that we were not able to fit the 1100 litres bin in them and we were not able to come up with a sorting mechanism that will be feasible for the people. The sorting would be very difficult since it has small opening. The next concept that we came up was with the Kiosk design that is used as the telephone booth all around UK. These are decommissioned telephone booths after the invention of the mobile phone. The Kiosk design had the required amount of space for anyone to throw their waste. It had enough space to occupy a 360 litres bin which will eventually have a tunnel that is occupied by 4X (1100 litres bins) underground. The concept was coined mainly since the design of the kiosk has been in England for a very long time, it also had the advantage that people are not using it. The initial cost for building the kiosk is going to be very low since we just have to refurbish the old telephone booths that are decommissioned.
Sorting Mechanism
Once it relates to contamination, there are a number of ways that objects might ruin a recycling load. Contamination happens when filthy things are combined with clean recycling, and it isn’t simply about putting the incorrect thing in the wrong bin . It’s a thorny problem that will take time and money to resolve. Due to improper and unclean materials being thrown in Leicestershire’s recycling bins, 5,500 tones of rubbish had to be disposed of last year, at a cost of slightly under half a million pounds. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, Oxford City Council’s newest numbers reveal that the yearly weight of recycling collected has climbed over the previous three years and is currently at an all-time high. The recycling process for 2020/21 is 53.02 percent, but contamination prompted 6.5 percent of the recyclable products collected since April 2020 to be discarded. Residents are encouraged to visit the city’s
website to verify that non-recyclable objects are not placed in the recycling container. There has ben a lot of mechanisms used by the recycling plants all around the world, but we came across a work done by Markus et al. The only concept they are using in order to sort their wastes is using sound. The concept has made the the whole sorting system cheaper and simpler. Based on the sound of the material thrown inside the bin the machine automatically sorts the recyclable material thrown inside. Although this concept has only been proven on a small scale, the concept should be developed in order to be feasible for use at a larger scale.
The figurebelow shows the integration of the above mechanism on the Kiosk design. The sorting bins are divided into four different bins based on the recycling material along with the black garbage. There is a primary bin where the data is collected to classify the type o waste and then the primary bin moves to the respective final bin location using a rail. It then drops the waste inside the final bin.
Note: The above images are for illustration purposes only and not for commercial use.
Feasibility/Evaluation
The scope of the centralised bin system is huge. The feasibility of this system cannot be perfectly checked since the number of users are huge and the factor of uncertainty is high. Every person using the system is responsible for successfully recycling their waste. Thus, the feasibility for this design is done using some of the common queries that we get when we have a new system of recycling in place.
Motivation to recycle
People are compelled to recycle as a result of peer pressure from family and friends. Furthermore, merely knowing that family, friends, and neighbours recycle encourages others to recycle. In a GfK Custom Survey North America study for SC Johnson, 26% indicated “seeing people I know taking action” has a massive effect on their environmental behaviour. Concern for the environment also has a significant impact on recycling habits. Per the GfK research, 75% of Americans believe they feel good when they benefit the environment. People are more inclined to engage, or to participate more completely, if recycling is perceived as productive. When residents of Waltham, Massachusetts were questioned what would most likely drive them to recycle, both recyclers and non-recyclers said receiving feedback from the city on the amount recycled and money saved would be motivating.
Reduced Drivers and collection
As a result of the countrywide HGV driver shortage, many councils throughout the UK are suffering delays in rubbish collection. An introduction of centralised bins would reduce the number of drivers needed. The system introduced also reduces interaction with the bins. When garbage is collected at the Kiosk, it is deposited beneath the earth in a single large container that is divided into divisions. When the garbage truck arrives, the entire bin raises to the same height as the truck contents, allowing it to be transferred inside. Following the collection of all rubbish. It is then descending, leaving empty bins that must be replenished.
Recycling the telephone booth for Recycling
There will be an obvious query when we are making an iconic part of a location into a recycling centre. Will the people accept this? Parts of Central London and areas around it have a lot of these red telephone booth but almost all of them are decommissioned. An iconic heritage of London is now used as a litter bin and a lot of it is also used for advertising. None of the booth is used for what it was once meant for. Local governments have adopted about 6,000 of the kiosks for additional uses, such as book exchanges. Communities will be allowed to buy payphones for £1 and utilise them for other uses if they are no longer needed. There are currently about 21,000 call boxes across the country. Some of the decommissioned booth are already been repaired and been used for different purposes. Some of the bins are already been used as a calling centre at accident hotspots and for suicide hotline. This could be an opportunity to introduce this concept along with the bins.
Decisions and Conclusions
The goal of the conceptual design group project was to come up with a new centralised waste collection system for the Bath BA1 postal code. BANES were our customer. As the group’s manager, I was responsible for making key decisions. We had weekly meetings to discuss the approach for the problem. The team’s first idea was the Deposit Return Scheme, which was utilised in many counties for effective recycling, but we dismissed it since it didn’t apply to the Bath region. Following considerable research, we devised several strategies for various terrains and population types.
For overground systems in common residential sites, the iconic design was chosen. The roman pillars were chosen as the iconic design for the bins, but we did not use them for the Kiosk since they had several faults, including size constraints and the final aesthetic of the design. We didn’t think the design served the aim of the bin makeover. As a result, we chose the Kiosk design. It was also agreed that some aspects of bath would not necessitate any modifications in how individuals recycle their trash (door to door pickup). One major issue we anticipated was that the bin’s design is iconic, which is part of London’s heritage, and after further investigation, we determined that using it as a bin as well as a hotspot for people to call in the event of an accident or a suicide prevention hotline would benefit the public even more.
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