Work in a group to design, build & code your smart garbage bin prototype using the Climate Action Kit! Consider what features your prototype should have to help make your community more sustainable. How could your ideas help a waste management specialist reduce their CO2 emissions in a large community?

Digital graphic illustration of a Waste Management Specialist moving waste and recyclables.
What does a waste management specialist do? Check out their Career Profile!

As you go through the steps below, you may wish to use our Design Journal Template to keep track of your work.

Journal Template

Follow these steps:

An icon of a magnifying glass, a paper with notes, and a brain.

Step 1

Research some examples of smart garbage bins and waste management routes

Icons of a light bulb, a thought bubble, and a pencil.

Step 2

Plan what features your bin will have and decide what building blocks, sensors, smart components, and craft materials you will need for building

icons of 3 building blocks (cube, corner connector, and short frame)

Step 3

Build your prototype, then connect it to Microsoft MakeCode to add code

Icons of code blocks.

Step 4

Test and debug until the device works

SUCCESS CRITERIA

I can build a smart garbage bin prototype using the Climate Action Kit that physically:

  • has a door 
  • holds waste

and uses:

  • sensors to detect the fill level inside the garbage bin 
  • a motor to open and close the bin
  • at least one boolean in your code 

Don’t feel limited by this. You can get creative and add more features if you would like!

Let’s Build!