MyMatR Gamifies Waste Disposal. Here’s How it Works.MyMatR Gamifies Waste Disposal. Here’s How it Works.

Tech startup MyMatR has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven waste receptacle that knows how to identify and sort recyclables and trash sent its way. Now company founder and materials engineer John Starke has launched a newer, even smarter model. It has the ability to engage and educate people by gamifying waste disposal.

The first version has just one slot for trash and recyclables— and takes on the task of moving them to the proper bins, which are housed inside the unit.  But the new interactive design has slots for both materials recovery facility (MRF)- and landfilled-destined materials. MyMatR Duo as it’s dubbed, challenges people to determine in which of the two holes their discards belong.

A message pops up on a display screen letting folks know if they were right. Whether they make a spot-on choice or not, items make it to their intended destination (with 90 percent accuracy). And what decision users make is documented to provide insight. A camera, AI, and mechanics work together to make sure of that.

The camera snaps a picture. The AI identifies the imaged item.  Then a “sort plate” tilts to the proper location, and off the discards go to their intended location.

“The true purpose of the hole is simply to give people an opportunity to think about what they are doing; to make a decision; and learn from their decision,” Starke says.

Now he and his team are “upping their game” with another draw: a point system that works with the help of scannable QR codes. He envisions people could get a point just for using the bin and maybe double points for making the right decision. Imagine earning a coupon for your next beer or coffee at one of your local haunts, just for taking care of your recyclables and trash.

More sustainability focused companies and cities are seeing they have a waste problem and believe education is the way to fix it.

Starke argues that focusing solely on educational campaigns is a mistake. They have not yet made a sweeping difference, he says,  pointing to U.S. Environmental Agency figures showing the country’s overall recycling rates have not budged much for 20 years, hovering in the 30 to low 30-something percentile.

“I'm not saying stop educating. But let's do it smarter with technology. If you can engage people, they care—especially if you can bring a sense of delight,” he says.

The smart system tracks a wealth of data delivered in real time to a dashboard. Customers learn how much of what material is collected; its monetary worth; potential emissions reductions; savings in landfill tipping fees; frequency of receptacle use; and other details.

“So, we are turning trash and recycling containers from a cost center [that has a price but generates no profit] into a knowledge- and value-generating center. Customers use the data to help improve their overall collection efficiency and their bottom line,” Starke says.

Bins can be customized according to size, hole configuration, messaging, and even appearance.

One customer, the city of Durham in North Carolina, opted for an exterior design that resembles a retro arcade machine.

“They're the City of Bulls. Their messaging is Step up; use the Sort o’ Bull. So, they really leaned into customizing their device to be unique to their city,” Starke says.

Durham is among a mix of customers that includes other cities, a university, and commercial properties, including BMW and Volvo manufacturing plants, Research Triangle Park, and a Saudi Arabian company that's working on building smart schools.

University of South Carolina (USC) was one of the first customers. As at other colleges, educating a quickly changing and busy student population is ongoing. 

Larry Cook, USC sustainability director, watches students come and go to see if and how they engage with MyMatR. 

Some of them simply deposit their throwaways and move on. Others are more curious, pausing to figure out what the device is about, and how it works. He was intrigued to see one student haul her recycling bin out and drop in items, one by one, to find out if they actually were recyclable. 

While the ideal goal is to engage and teach, Cook likes that the job gets done even if students just toss and go.

“This is different from a standard paired landfill and recycling bin where disposed items just end up where you drop them – maybe correct, maybe not, with no opportunity for engagement or education.

“The MyMatR is an innovative way to grab attention and help address waste in strategic and innovative ways,” Cook says.

Smarter technologies have been around in the waste industry for several years and are gaining traction, especially among MRF operators. They are deploying fast-moving and keenly precise robots and AI that monitor, analyze, and automatically sort recyclables.

The “AMP Robotics,” “Greyparrots,” and “Everest Labs” of the world are doing great work, acknowledges Starke. But there’s a missing link in his mind.

“MRFs are several steps away from the disposal source. Starting there will not solve the real problem, which is that waste is not going to its proper place at the time of disposal,” he says.

MRFs recover a fraction of what they otherwise could if the entire collection system were optimized.

“It has to start at the beginning, at the source. Then we can affect the next steps and ultimately improve outcomes,” Starke contends.

He and his team are looking to take their innovation further. Solar powered units could be next on the agenda. And they are thinking about how they could someday come up with a three-hole bin. It’s recycling and trash today. Maybe down the road it will be organics to make compost too.