Problem Statement
In today's consumer-driven society, excessive waste generation has become a critical environmental issue. Many usable items are discarded prematurely, contributing to landfill overflow and resource depletion. Absence of user-friendly technological solutions that make sustainable choices convenient.
Research & Key Insights
Environmental Impact Analysis
Our team conducted research into current waste management statistics and environmental impacts:
According to the United State's Environmental Protection Agency''s (EPA) latest data, the average American generates approximately 4.9 pounds of waste daily (EPA Municipal Solid Waste Report, 2023)
Only about 32% of waste is recycled or composted in the United States (National Geographic Recycling Report, 2024)
Approximately 85% of discarded textiles end up in landfills despite being largely recyclable (Textile Waste Coalition Data, 2024)
Electronic waste is growing at a rate 3x faster than other waste streams, with only 17% being properly recycled (UN Global E-waste Monitor, 2023)
Desk Research
Lack of accessible platforms connecting those who want to discard items with those who could use them
Limited awareness of reuse possibilities for everyday items
Absence of user-friendly technological solutions that make sustainable choices convenient
Minimal community engagement in local sustainability initiatives
Competitive Analysis
We conducted a thorough evaluation of similar apps and services:
ThredUP and Poshmark: Strong in textile reuse but limited in other categories
Freecycle and Buy Nothing: Good community engagement but limited technological features
Sustainability-focused apps: Often information-heavy but action-light for example; Klima, Ecosia
AI waste sorting technologies: Primarily industrial applications with minimal consumer engagement
Rapid User Insights
Given the hackathon's limited timeframe, we conducted a quick turnaround user assessment with team members and fellow participants:
Informal discussions with 8-10 hackathon attendees revealed common frustrations with existing marketplace options.
A brief survey of immediate social connections highlighted interest in sustainability features combined with practical usability.
Team members shared personal experiences with waste management and reuse challenges.
This rapid insight gathering, while limited in scope, provided valuable direction for our initial concept development.
Affinity Diagram
Solution
Using Wall-E as a mascot, our team aimed to engage users in a fun and meaningful way, encouraging them to think differently about what is considered waste.
After analyzing our research findings and identifying key user needs, we developed these core solutions:
1.
AI Repurposing Platform
Marketplace
Tips
Community
1.
AI Repurposing platform
Research showed a significant knowledge gap around creative reuse. Our solution uses image recognition technology to analyze items and suggest potential repurposing methods, addressing the educational barrier that often leads to premature disposal.
2.
Marketplace platform
Our analysis revealed that while multiple marketplaces exist, few focus specifically on waste reduction. We designed an intuitive interface for listing, browsing, and exchanging used items with sustainability metrics prominently featured to reinforce environmental impact.
3.
Tips & educational content
Our research highlighted that users need specific, actionable information. We integrated resources on waste reduction, DIY projects, and environmental impact calculations to transform awareness into concrete actions.
4.
Community Hub
We identified that individual actions are reinforced by community engagement. Our platform includes a forum for local sustainability events and a feed for discussions, creating social accountability and knowledge sharing opportunities.
Click here to view the prototype of our project.
Learnings
The EcoWaze project resulted in both tangible achievements and valuable insights for our team. We successfully delivered a functional prototype that won the "Best Sustainable Category" at BrickHack 2025, validating our approach to environmental challenges through technology.
Through this process, we gained crucial experience with AI implementation and UI design while developing a deeper understanding of sustainability behavior patterns. The project demonstrated that combining practical utility with community engagement creates a more compelling platform for environmental action than either approach alone.
