Kiril Gantchev
Introduction
Offices produce a significant amount of waste, but organizing people to sort it correctly remains a challenge. At home, sorting is second nature for many—but in the workplace, habits break down. All it takes is a few rushed or disengaged employees to toss the wrong item into a recycling bin, contaminating the entire batch and undermining everyone’s efforts.
A common question we hear is: Can Ameru’s smart bin justify its environmental footprint with its recycling benefits? The answer is a resounding yes! This blog post explores how our AI-powered smart bin tackles office sorting challenges with an estimated 95% accuracy, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and driving sustainability.
What is the Ameru Smart Bin?
The Ameru smart bin is a cutting-edge waste management solution tailored for environments like offices. Its head unit features a Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen display, and IMX 219 camera module, with 3D-printed PLA components. The shell is constructed from an estimated 40 kg of stainless steel, complemented by 3D-printed funnels and steel hinges. The dumping mechanism includes two 20 kg servos, 3D-printed parts, and a 90mm bearing. Operating on just 15 watts—akin to an LED light bulb—it is designed to process approximately 100 tons of waste over its 10-year lifespan with an estimated 95% sorting accuracy, ensuring recyclable materials are efficiently diverted from landfills.
Office Waste: The Baseline
Research provides insight into office waste dynamics, critical for understanding Ameru’s estimated impact:
- Waste Generation: Studies suggest the average office worker generates approximately 500 kg of waste annually, totaling an estimated 25 tons per year for a 50-employee office (Business Waste).
- Composition: Paper and cardboard make up roughly 70% of office waste, with plastics, food waste, and other materials comprising the rest. An estimated 60% of this waste is recyclable, equating to approximately 15 tons per year in our example office (RoadRunnerWM).
- Current Recycling Rates: In the US, municipal solid waste recycling rates are around 32%, with office paper recycling estimated at 66.2%, yet approximately 45% of office paper still ends up in landfills. A conservative estimate suggests offices recycle about 50% of recyclable waste, or roughly 7.5 tons of the 15 tons in our example (EPA).
These estimates highlight the potential for improvement, as significant recyclable materials are lost to landfills due to inadequate sorting.
Manufacturing Emissions
Producing the Ameru smart bin generates estimated CO2 emissions from its key components. Below is an approximate breakdown of major contributors, grouped by the bin’s main sections, based on industry averages:
-
Head Unit:
- Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit (1 unit): Approximately 60 kg CO2
- 256GB NVMe SSD (1 unit): Approximately 15 kg CO2
- 10.1-inch Capacitive Touchscreen Display (1 unit): Approximately 25 kg CO2
- IMX 219 Camera Module (1 unit): Approximately 3 kg CO2
- 3D-Printed PLA Parts (~2 kg, 4 parts): Approximately 2.6 kg CO2
- Subtotal: 60 + 15 + 25 + 3 + 2.6 = Approximately 105.6 kg CO2
-
Shell:
- Stainless Steel Body (~40 kg, 1 unit): Approximately 125 kg CO2
- 3D-Printed PLA Funnels (~3 kg, 6 parts): Approximately 3.9 kg CO2
- Steel Hinges (~2 kg, 4 units): Approximately 5 kg CO2
- Subtotal: 125 + 3.9 + 5 = Approximately 133.9 kg CO2
-
Dumping Mechanism:
- 20 kg Servos (2 units): Approximately 10 kg CO2
- 3D-Printed PLA Parts (~3 kg, 6 parts): Approximately 3.9 kg CO2
- 90mm Bearing (~1 kg, 1 unit): Approximately 2.5 kg CO2
- Subtotal: 10 + 3.9 + 2.5 = Approximately 16.4 kg CO2
-
Total Manufacturing Emissions: 105.6 + 133.9 + 16.4 = Approximately 255.9 kg CO2 ≈ 0.26 tons CO2
CO2 Footprint and Recycling Benefits
The Ameru smart bin has an estimated minimal environmental footprint while delivering substantial CO2 savings through enhanced office recycling. Its total CO2 footprint combines estimated manufacturing and operational emissions:
- Manufacturing: Producing the bin, including its stainless steel body, Jetson Orin Nano, display, servos, and 3D-printed parts, emits an estimated 0.26 tons CO2.
- Operation: Consuming an estimated 15 watts over 10 years (approximately 1,314 kWh at 0.5 kg CO2/kWh) adds roughly 0.66 tons CO2.
- Total Footprint: 0.26 + 0.66 = Approximately 0.92 tons CO2.
The bin is designed to process approximately 100 tons of waste over its 10-year lifespan, or roughly 10 tons per year, with an estimated 60% (6 tons annually) being recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, and plastics. In the baseline scenario without the smart bin, we assume that the office recycles 50% of these recyclable materials, or 3 tons annually. With an estimated 95% sorting accuracy, the Ameru Smart Bin correctly identifies:
- Recyclables Sorted Annually: 95% × 6 tons = Approximately 5.7 tons
- Over 10 Years: 5.7 tons × 10 = Approximately 57 tons
The remaining 0.2 tons per year of non-recyclable waste is misclassified but doesn’t impact CO2 savings. The recycling stream’s estimated 96.6% purity (57 / 59 tons) ensures nearly all sorted recyclables are processed effectively.
Recycling these 57 tons saves an estimated 1.5 tons of CO2 per ton recycled (based on averages: 9 tons for aluminum, 1.5 tons for plastics, 0.9 tons for paper), yielding:
- CO2 Savings: 57 × 1.5 = Approximately 85.5 tons CO2
The net savings of approximately 85.5 - 0.92 = 84.58 tons CO2 is over 90 times the bin’s estimated footprint (85.5 / 0.92 ≈ 92.9), making it a powerful tool for reducing landfill waste and emissions in offices.
Comparison to Baseline
Without the Ameru Smart Bin, the office would recycle an estimated 50% of the recyclable waste processed by the bin, which is 3 tons annually (50% of 6 tons). Over 10 years, this amounts to 30 tons recycled.
With the Ameru Smart Bin, the recycling increases to 5.7 tons annually (95% of 6 tons), totaling 57 tons over 10 years.
Thus, the additional recycling due to the Smart Bin is 57 - 30 = 27 tons over 10 years.
Given that recycling saves approximately 1.5 tons of CO2 per ton of waste recycled, the additional CO2 savings are 27 tons × 1.5 = 40.5 tons CO2 over 10 years.
Moreover, the total CO2 savings from the Smart Bin's operation are 57 tons × 1.5 = 85.5 tons CO2, compared to the bin's total footprint of 0.92 tons CO2, resulting in net savings of 85.5 - 0.92 = 84.58 tons CO2.
Therefore, the Ameru Smart Bin not only offsets its own carbon footprint but also provides substantial additional CO2 savings compared to the baseline.
Looking Ahead: Practical Steps for Sustainable Offices
The Ameru smart bin offers a practical solution for offices aiming to improve waste management. By accurately sorting recyclables like paper, plastics, and cardboard, it helps reduce landfill waste and supports a cleaner workplace. Offices can integrate the bin into their daily routines, using its feedback to educate employees and minimize contamination. By enhancing recycling accuracy, the Ameru Smart Bin enables offices to achieve significant CO2 savings—40.5 tons more than the baseline over 10 years—while maintaining a minimal environmental footprint. As we continue to enhance the bin based on user insights, we’re committed to making sustainable waste management straightforward and effective. Ready to streamline your office’s recycling efforts? Contact us or share this post with your colleagues to start making a difference, one bin at a time!