Collaborator : Ruoxiao Sun

Big thanks to Julie Lizardo, Akshita Bawa, Mayie, Dominic Berg and Garbage Collector Guy for their inputs.

Working document :

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o4cRuEivGEDCvUIJfZw9f0nMB0wzKkF6Ai6XIY95ogw/edit?usp=sharing

In this week we followed upon the action items of the last week. we did the user research, research of NY & NYU rules, re-iterated our design and laid out our MVP (minimal viable product) specifications.

User Research

User 1 (Female, 27, Single, Brooklyn Resident, ITP Student)

User 2 (Male, 49, Married with 2 kids, New York Resident, Works for U.S. Govt.)

Says : She is aware of waste segregation basics. Tries to do it most of the it. Puts bathroom trash together. Mostly carries unempty cups home, empties them and then trashes them.

Does : Similar to what she says.

Thinks : Garbage bins are not very convenient to put trash in. Hands get dirty.

Feels : There are not much waste segregation bins on roads.

User 3 (Female, 32, Single, Brooklyn Resident, ITP Student)

Says : She is aware of waste segregation basics. Finds the system in Brooklyn very convenient because people don't have to go far to throw their trash at the right place, pickup service is available at the residential home only. Quite confused for throwing certain thrashes that are mixed for eg. Tetrapack with plastic lid and plastic film cardboard body etc. 'Where do I throw such a thrash.'

Does : Throws organic trash in neighbor's compost bin whenever she can compost it there. Has common trash can for bathroom.

Empties the cup before throwing it in the can.

Thinks : System in US in better.

Feels : The trash cans can be designed better.

Says : Tries to put most waste in the right place. Doesn't trust the waste collection for commercial buildings. Comes from Vermont where the waste segregation rules are quite strict.

Does : Takes most waste in to home and disposes in residential trash center. Collects organic waste in compost bin.

Thinks : More people should be aware of the waste disposal problem and repercussions on the climate change.

Feels : Hopes to see a change with the new government coming in. Hopes that his kids have a sustainable future.

User 4 (Male, 35, Married with 2 kids, Jersey City Resident, Works for Finance Company)

Says : He is aware a little about the problem of waste improper disposal and connection to climate change. Its difficult to separate waste easily.

Does : Tries to reuse the plastic bags and throw few recyclables as expected by the residential rules. Doesn't care about the packaged items taken on the way to office. Throws in any trash can he sees.

Thinks : His everyday life is too busy with 2 kids & 1 dog. He doesn't have time to worry about all this. Its too much effort.

Feels : He already does a lot towards adapting lifestyle changes to mitigate global warming by being vegetarian.

User 5 (Male, 39, Married with kids, Garbage Collector Guy)

Says : Wearing glove while collecting trash is very important else there are skin allergies & rashes developed and can fall sick.

Does : Collects the trash as 2 categories : Landfill & Recyclable and throws in the dumpster facility. Showed us the dumpster facility.

Thinks : Trash cans can be better designed to take out the trash.

Feels : The dumpster ground facility is good.

Brooklyn Dumpster Facility (1 MetroTech Center)

Expert Opinion : Julie Lizardo

1. Problems surrounding trash :

   1. It is important to place rules on consumer ethics. Because when people are less interested to learn, they know nothing actually happens to them.
   2. One major problem of trash management is materials used to make consumer goods. There are no policies, label packing or package material standardization etc.
   3. Ecowashing : Companies are using sustainability as marketing gimmick mostly. Thus the products may not actually be sustainable.
   4. Problem whether there is timely refreshing of the trash can so that people have space to put in them.

2. Action Items :

   1. Research about the existing products, then design, start built.
   2. User test, talk to people who have no clue.
   3. Try to make MVP
   4. Check Specific to New York what are the trash policies.
   5. Check for NYU waste policy. As it is a commercial building they have to pay for their trash management versus the residential places where tax money is used for the same. nyu.edu/life/sustainability.html
   6. Define the focus on improving on the problems at different stages such as : when they buy, before buy, while, disposal stage.