Nature Inspired Design for Waste Management System

Malvika Behere1 and Mr. Rahul Sahni2

1
Industrial Design, National Institute of Design, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Email:
malvika.behere@nidmp.ac.in
2
Industrial Design, National Institute of Design, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Email:
rahul.sahni@nidmp.ac.in

Abstract:
Bins in public spaces often accumulate dirt, leading to unpleasant odors from open lids or flimsy
foot pedals on closed lids. Places like eateries or theaters, significant generators of wet waste,
require open-lid bins for temporary convenience, but these also contribute to lingering unpleasant
smells. The swift filling of public waste bins frequently results in overflow before collection,
causing cluttered streets, unpleasant smells, and negative health and environmental impacts. This
research focuses on addressing these issues by proposing a contactless hygienic waste disposal system.

The proposed system will allow people to maintain their hygiene and provide a clean, pleasant
environment and able to dispose of their waste in a civilized manner. The system will be at a public spaces
like parks, outside eateries, workplaces, schools, recreational centers etc. to improve the general cleanliness
of the surroundings. Anyone and everyone who uses dustbins/waste disposal systems are to benefit by this
initiative.

To validate the effectiveness of the waste disposal system, comprehensive assessments and user
feedback sessions are conducted. The results demonstrate significant improvements in hygiene and
provide a clean, pleasant environment. Moreover, enhanced comfort leads to improved focus and
productivity, positively impacting the quality and quantity of their output.

Keyword: Dustbin, Biological Strategy, Bioplastic Film,

Background:

The government always has the best interest for the well-being of their city and promoting cleanliness and
safe disposal of waste through Swachh Bharat Mission and other initiatives. Cause of the problem is
urbanization, consumerism, non-biodegradable material, less awareness, and carelessness.

Dustbins in public spaces are often ridden with grime and dirt, either with open lids, spreading odor or
closed lids with flimsy foot pedals. Areas like eateries or theaters, where most of the wet waste is produced,
require dustbins with open lids- which are momentarily convenient but hold unpleasant odor. Public waste
bins are filling up faster than ever and inevitably many of the bins end up overflowing before collected,
causing not only cluttered streets and bad odors but also negative health and environmental impacts.
Aim:

The proposed system will allow people to maintain their hygiene and provide a clean, pleasant environment
and able to dispose of their waste in a civilized manner.

Problem Statement:

Present work encompasses a survey on a local scale, pertaining to waste disposal issues at NID MP campus.
In total 58 responses were received, who answered various questions about their experience at an on-campus
eatery.

The results concluded with reference to the dustbin shown in figure 1 and 2, shows that 54 (93.1%) people
prefer to use open lid dustbins due their accessibility, 46 (79.3%) people are bothered by the smell of the
open dustbins, 44 (75.9%) people also alter their seating preferences due to the placement of the dustbins &
the seating area and 52 (89.7%) people would like to see an improved model of dustbin as depicted in the
figure 3 to 6 respectively.

The survey shows that public areas with dustbins have unhealthy and bacteria- ridden environments, and
these dustbins usually give off an unpleasant odor due to the mixing of all waste material.

Figure 1 Figure 2
 58 responses

Figure 3

58 responses

Figure 4

58 responses
 Figure 5

58 responses

Figure 6
Biological Strategies:

The study has been conducted on how does nature carry out waste disposal/ manage waste?
Organisms explored for the study are:

a) Gall dwelling Aphids Snakes

Elephants can use vibrations and seismic activity to talk to one another, along with gestural interactions.

Many toxic animals, like snakes, frogs, and caterpillars, have warning coloration—colored skin or scales that
are bright red or orange. These animals take advantage of operant conditioning to remind potential predators
that they taste bad and will make them sick.

a) Poplar Spiral Gall Aphid

The poplar spiral gall aphid as shown in figure 7 lives in colonies in galls on black poplar, and secretes a
powdery, hydrophobic wax. When an aphid excretes honeydew, the droplet is coated in wax strands it
produces at the same time. The droplets are then covered with additional powdery wax as they get moved
around inside the gall. Wax-coated droplets don’t stick to the aphid or gall walls and can be disposed of
simply by rolling them out of the gall opening.

Aphids are primarily northern temperate zone insects all in the family Aphididae of the order Hemiptera, with
about 5,000 species worldwide. Most aphids are about 1/8 inch long and all are soft-bodied. Their pear-
shaped bodies have “exhaust pipes” (cornicles) protruding from the back end of the abdomen (used to exude
droplets of a quick-hardening defensive fluid called cornicle wax). To get enough nitrogen in their diet, aphids
must ingest far more sugar and liquid than they need. They have special filters in their digestive system to
help excrete the excess sugar water, called honeydew.

Figure 7

As depicted in figure 8, an aphid secretes a powdery, hydrophobic wax from special cells on the outer surface
of its abdomen. The wax is initially secreted as small threads that arrange into skeins about 10-20 μm in
diameter, which then break down into a fine filamentous powder. This powder coats the gall’s interior walls,
creating a microtextured surface that, due to its physical structure and chemical composition, is hydrophobic.
When an aphid excretes honeydew, the droplet is coated in wax strands it produces at the same time. The
droplets are then covered with additional powdery wax as they get moved around inside the gall.

Wax-coated droplets don’t stick to the aphid or gall walls and can be disposed of simply by rolling them out
of the gall opening.
 Figure 8

The wax-covered honeydew droplets form spheres of liquid called “liquid marbles” that can easily roll around
on a smooth surface and not wet it as shown in figure 9 and 10. In addition, because the honeydew is kept in
small discrete droplets and not allowed to coalesce into bigger drops, the marbles roll faster and take less time
to move.

Together, the aphid colony creates a non-stick microhabitat with an effective and efficient waste- removal
system. Apart from coating honeydew, wax also forms a protective cover that provides aphids with additional
resistance against frost, moisture, UV radiation and natural enemies

Figure 9 Figure 10
b) Elephants

Elephants shown in figure 11, have a well-developed system of communication that makes use of all their
senses - hearing, smell, vision, and touch - including an exceptional ability to detect vibrations.

Elephants possess several adaptations suited for seismic communication. The cushion pads of the feet contain
cartilaginous nodes and have similarities to the acoustic fat found in marine mammals such as toothed whales
and sirenians. A unique sphincter-like muscle around the ear canal constricts the passageway, thereby
dampening acoustic signals and allowing the animal to hear more seismic signals.

Figure 11
Methodology:

After exploration of the two-organism selected for the study, it has been found that, excess secretion,
hydrophobic powdery wax, coats the drops of honeydew, trapping them into 'liquid marbles', disposed of by
simply rolling them out, microtextured surface and effective & efficient waste-removal system are the key
parameters for translating biological strategy into design strategy as elaborated in the below table no.1.
Biological Strategy Design Strategy
Gall-dwelling aphids secrete a powdery, A powdery, water repellent wax substance that
hydrophobic wax from special cells on the outer resembles wax is created as threads that break
surface of its abdomen. The wax is initially down into fine powder.
secreted as small threads that arrange into skins, This powder coats the interior surface, creating a
which then break down into a fine filamentous microtextured surface. It is a water repellent due to
powder. its extremely small surface area and chemical
This powder coats the gall’s interior walls, creating composition.
a microtextured surface that due to its physical When a sticky substance is released, it is coated in
structure and chemical composition is hydrophobic. wax threads and the powdery substance. This forms
When an aphid excretes honeydew, the droplet is little waterproof balls that can be rolled around
coated in wax strands it produces at the same time. without sticking to any surface.
The droplets are then covered with additional
powdery wax as they get moved around inside the
gall.
Wax-coated droplets don’t stick to the aphid or gall
walls and can be disposed of simply by rolling
them out of the gall opening.

Table 1
Emulate:

Observing natural phenomena and incorporating them into design thinking, processes, and actions is
undertaken. Mapping between the problem & the design strategy are evaluated using the key parameters.
Using the biological strategy in its literal sense of trapping honeydew into liquid marbles (trapping waste
items) that are stored in the gall (the dustbin) and disposed by rolling them out of the gall opening (here,
collected by the garbage collectors for sorting). A waste disposal system where the waste is 'coated' to prevent
it from interacting with each other. Separating the waste material will make the jobs of the waste sorters much
easier.
Concept

Every time waste is thrown in the dustbin, there is a thin bioplastic film near the surface of the bin that coats
the item. This film is hydrophobic, and the waste items end up as separate ‘balls’ in the dustbin. This will ease
the process of waste sorting. The items in the bin are separated from each other, so there is little to no bacteria
inside the dustbin. The smell, material and form are contained within the film, and does not merge with the
other items. This process protects the item from being thrown in the dustbin. Many waste items are deemed
destroyed once thrown away, but if one needs to retrieve them, it would be possible to do so.

The coats will contain the odor, reduce risks of infection, prevent items from mixing, and prevent the
attraction of flies, pests, and stray animals. It is also waterproof. The ‘liquid marbles’ will be easy to transport,
and further steps involve the segregation of trash. The semi-transparent coating will help sorters to distinguish
the waste by material, effectively boosting the waste sorting process. Since the trash is contained, its handling
will be much more hygienic and safer.

Material

Ideally, the film should be made of bioplastics/biodegradable plastics. Since too much waste has been created
daily, there is a need for a lot of film to cover our waste. Care should be taken to avoid creating more waste
and escalate an already destructive problem. The biodegradable plastic should be easy to tear off or should
dissolve in water during the recycling process.

User experience

The user wants to throw an item in the dustbin. He crushes the item and pushes it into the dustbin, making
sure the film has covered the item completely with one push. The garbage sorter is handpicking waste items,
the job made much easier now that all garbage items are individually sealed off. The recycling unit has
received a large amount of raw material that is ready for cleaning and processing. On mixing water with the
raw material, the plastic film dissolves into the water, leaving the item in good condition, ready to recycle.

Connections & Patterns

Context-
Aphids excrete honeydew and secrete powdery wax as a defense mechanism. In the design strategy, the
dustbin will ‘secrete’ a film that acts as a defense mechanism from the waste items.

Behavior/Mechanism-
Gall-dwelling aphids adapted to their unique living condition and created a self-defense mechanism. The
combination of the honeydew and the powdery wax prevents the honeydew from drowning the aphid. It is
creating both the cause and prevention of its destruction.

Relationships-
In the design strategy, looking at the relationship between the dustbin user and the waste sorter. the user aware
of the horrors of waste sorting and management and providing them with an easier transition than being
conscious of waste disposal.

Scale-
The aphids work on a personal basis. sorting/separation of garbage from its inception is essential for ease in
later stages of waste treatment. Its impact will be on a larger scale, but the application will be on a local level.

Interconnections-
Trying to create a circular economy, much like the functioning of nature. Ease in waste sorting will lead to
ease in recycling, bringing about better-quality recycled products.

Result:
Waste sorting units and recycling units are the main systems that will be impacted by this solution. Local
government bodies will be instrumental in installing the modified public dustbins. Better purity of waste will
lead to improved recycling of raw materials. The waste sorting process will be much more hygienic. Waste
will not be damaged, so will not end up in the landfills, like most paper does. Areas located around landfills
will have reduced risks of respiratory diseases. Public areas where dustbins are located will be much cleaner
and odor-free. The proposed nature inspired waste management system incorporating thin bioplastic film near
the surface of the bin that coats the item will be a significant improvement in hygiene and provide a clean,
pleasant environment.

Conclusion:

To implement the system, the awareness of the waste management process and encouraging people to be more
conscious about the kind of waste they are disposing of is essential. Testing the material of the film, its main
priority being that it is biodegradable without any external energy applied to it. Paper should not be thrown in
the trash. Paper waste collection needs to be given more importance (40% of landfills consist of old plain
paper and newspapers). The proposed system will create a circular economy, much like the functioning of
nature. Ease in waste sorting will lead to ease in recycling, bringing about better-quality recycled products.

Waste disposal and management is a largely overlooked issue, even after huge efforts to spread awareness
amongst people. Waste segregation will always be an issue, as people can be careless while handling waste.
They look at waste as something to get rid of, and don’t think about its further stages. It is assumed that
‘recycling is being done’, but most of the waste that reaches the waste management units is impure and cannot
be recycled. This waste ends up in the landfills and creates more problems. Better sorting and purity of waste
leads to more raw material for recycling. Goal is to reduce the mounds of landfill and complete the cycle of
life. Public dustbins will stop being unpleasant, and it will be easy to sort through trash for item retrieval,
investigation purposes, waste management, etc.

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