Development of a gamified system for enjoyable waste sorting

Development of a gamified system for enjoyable waste sorting

Cuba, Havana Province

• Low recycling rates due to insufficient waste separation; organic waste accounts for about 50% of general household waste, worsening sanitary conditions.
• Under economic sanctions, chemical fertilizers cannot be imported. Although organic agriculture is common, production of organic fertilizers has declined due to economic deterioration and fuel shortages.
• Low motivation to separate organic waste, which is a key raw material for organic fertilizers.
• The reduction in organic fertilizers is lowering the productivity of peri-urban farmers.

1. Verify that by creating a system in which actors at all levels can enjoyably participate in waste separation and collection in a game-like manner, more citizens and organizations will proactively sort their waste, thereby promoting the collection and utilization of organic waste. By visualizing and quantifying collection volumes and turning them into a digital game that assigns points based on amounts collected, with friendly competition among peers and families, we aim to shift waste sorting from something dirty and bothersome to a way to “win the game.” We also expect to digitize data such as volumes of separated waste and the districts they come from, enabling its use in future waste collection planning.
2. As noted above, the bottleneck in waste collection and recycling is separation. If separation is established, plastics, paper, and metals can be directed to existing recycling systems. Meanwhile, around 50% of household waste is organic and is a source of contamination and odor (increasing infection risks), so dealing with organic waste is essential to improving the waste problem and sanitary conditions. Therefore, organic waste should also be a separation target. By setting up infrastructure that enables waste collectors to easily produce compost and supply it to peri-urban farmers, the compost can serve as fertilizer for organic vegetable production around the city and help stabilize food supplies.

Example ideas for a gamified separation-and-collection proof of concept are below ;

1. Turn waste separation into a mobile app game (points-based) that visualizes and measures amounts; both disposers and collectors earn points in proportion to separated volumes. Points can be redeemed for a variety of prizes, including digital rewards.
2. Provide a “game participation ticket” when people bring separated waste to designated collection points (e.g., schools, hospitals, markets, or other nearby locations where composting containers can be placed).
3. Visualize collected volumes and enable competition among friends or between schools. Those who collect larger amounts of separated waste receive recognition and prizes.
4. Create a game that rewards and compares compost production volumes.

Expected actors to participate in building the gamified separation-and-collection system

1. IT firms or universities to develop the game app (Cuba has software/app development companies).
2. Companies with expertise in waste separation and collection that can provide necessary containers (e.g., for composting) and deliver training.
3. Local participating actors: recycling and sanitation public enterprises, schools, hospitals, private businesses, and peri-urban farmers as collection partners.
4. Companies that can provide prizes. Since desirable rewards differ by participant (individuals vs. hospitals or schools), a wide range—from digital to physical goods—is ideal. Prizes can also support corporate PR (with social media dissemination in mind).

• Accumulate data on total waste volumes and amounts of properly separated waste
• Utilize the accumulated data to inform and optimize waste-collection planning
• Reduce mixed/general waste and improve sanitary conditions
• Stimulate economic activity and foster new businesses that promote recycling
• Expand compost production and improve food safety
• Improve waste awareness among individuals and society, and strengthen collaboration among all actors

• Coordination and collaboration with local actors
• Collaboration with organic farmers (SHEP project)
• Introduction to Cuban private companies specialized in app development

Aichi（online pitch）・Fukuoka（online pitch）