HUB Bin Expansion Project

14 May 2018

My name is Izabella Dadula and I am a graduating senior in the University of Washington Industrial Design program on the Seattle campus. I am writing to apply for a small CSF grant ($952) for a student-led project (with faculty support).

Since Summer 2017, I have been working to redesign the physical containers that are part of the Smart Bins installation at the HUB. The Smart Bins installation (designed by Karen Cheng and Kristine Matthews, faculty members at the University of Washington) consists of a set of digital screens and videos that help educate users about proper recycling and composting. When someone throws trash into the bins, it triggers a weight sensor, and the screens tell the user how their choice impacts the environment.

Unfortunately, the current bins are small surplus items provided by UW Recycling. They have very limited capacity (about 10 gallons). In the HUB location, these bins cannot handle the amount of foot traffic and waste at the HUB. By noon, the bins are completely overflowing with trash—and that deters people from seeing and using the installation (see photo next page).

To solve this problem, my design more than doubles the bins’ capacity. Throughout this year, I have consulted with the original research group and made multiple iterations of my design so that new bins accommodate both a larger liner and a larger digital scale. Besides increasing capacity, I have made the new bins with a side-door, which will also be easier (more ergonomic) for custodians to service. The current bins are top-loading, which means that custodians have to lift the waste bags up and out of the liners.

I have been working with the UW School of Art Woodshop and 3D lab technicians, and we have secured free leftover wood from a salvage project that I can reuse for doors. The CSF grant will enable us to pay a fabricator to bend and powder-coat steel for the rest of the casing. We have sent the design out to local metal shops for quotes, and selected the lowest price. The new bins are extremely sturdy and should last more than 50 years.

We have some funding from the UW HUB and UW HFS for this project. The artists/faculty are also willing to contribute/match these funds. With this CSF grant, we will have full funding and will be able to bring my design to life. This is an extremely exciting and important moment for me as a senior in industrial design—to finally see the production of a design that I personally worked on.

I believe this project addresses the CSF requirements because the installation has been proven to change behavior over time. In the bin’s previous location in UW’s PACCAR hall, trash sorts from the UW Garbology Project showed that the installation increases composting and reduces contamination in recycling. The installation is used not only by students and staff, but also by prospective students and families who visit the campus. The bins are currently located in a high traffic area and are a part of spreading proper waste management awareness in at the University of Washington and beyond.

Please help me see this project to its completion. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Izabella Dadula

UW Industrial Design Senior

izdadula@uw.edu

Budget for expanded capacity hub bins

• Wood Door Fabrication at School of Art + Art History + Design
  • Salvaged Wood Material $0
  • Woodworking Assistance from Flyn O’Brien, UW Design Technician $330
• Hardware
  • Six Hinges from McMaster-Carr (Two per Door, $5.40 each) $32
  • Three Sets of Four Levellers from McMaster Carr ($7.05 per set) $28
  • WA State Sales Tax (10.4%) $6
• Fabrication at Rainier
  • Metal Purchasing, Bending, Powder Coating and Assembly (Wood Door) $5,775
  • WA State Sales Tax (10.4%) $600
• Interior Liners and Scales
  • Three Centurian 23 gallon bin liners ($21 each) $63
  • Three Adam Scales ($160 each) $480
  • WA State Sales Tax (10.4%) $56
• Direct Printing for Bin Lids
  • Printing from Imagine Visual Services (includes WA State Sales Tax) $332

TOTAL COST $7,702

Funds raised

• Budget from UW HUB $2,500
• Budget from UW HFS $750
• Matching Funds from UW Design Division $3,500

Requested funds from CSF Small Projects Grant $952

Timeline for expanded capacity hub bins

We can begin fabrication immediately after funds have been supplied by the CSF Small Projects Grant.

• The fabrication process will occur during Summer Quarter 2018.
• The new bins can then be in place prior to the start of Fall Quarter 2018.