Arduino-Based Smart Waste Segregation System Using Metal, Plastic and Moisture Sensors with Stepper and Servo Control

This Arduino Smart Waste Segregation System is an automated material classification project that detects metal, plastic, and wet waste using three different sensors. Based on the detected material type, the system rotates a compartment using a stepper motor and controls a servo motor gate mechanism to drop the waste into the correct bin.

Project Overview

The Arduino sketch performs the following functions:

Reads input from:
- Metal detection sensor (inductive proximity sensor)
- Plastic detection sensor
- Moisture sensor (for wet waste detection)
Processes sensor data to determine material type
Rotates a stepper motor to align the correct compartment
Activates a servo motor to open and close a gate
Automatically drops the material into the designated section

Working Principle

An object is placed into the input chamber.
The Arduino reads signals from all three sensors.
Based on detection logic:
- If metal is detected → Stepper rotates to metal bin.
- If plastic is detected → Stepper rotates to plastic bin.
- If wet material is detected → Stepper rotates to wet waste bin.
The servo motor opens the gate.
Waste drops into the aligned compartment.
The servo closes the gate and resets for the next cycle.

This ensures accurate, automated segregation without manual intervention.

Code:

/*
 * This Arduino sketch reads from three sensors to detect metal, plastic, and wet
 * materials. Based on the detected material, it rotates a compartment using a
 * stepper motor to place the material in the designated compartment. A servo
 * motor is used to control a gate mechanism to drop the material.
 */

#include <Servo.h>
#include <Stepper.h>

// Pin definitions
const int rainSensorPin = A0;
const int proximitySensorPin = 2;
const int servoPin = 3;
const int stepperIn1 = 8;
const int stepperIn2 = 9;
const int stepperIn3 = 10;
const int stepperIn4 = 11;

// Stepper motor setup
const int stepsPerRevolution = 2048;
Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, stepperIn1, stepperIn3, stepperIn2, stepperIn4);

// Servo motor setup
Servo myServo;

void setup() {
  // Initialize serial communication
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Initialize sensors
  pinMode(rainSensorPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(proximitySensorPin, INPUT);

  // Initialize servo motor
  myServo.attach(servoPin);
  myServo.write(0); // Initial position

  // Initialize stepper motor
  myStepper.setSpeed(10); // Set speed to 10 RPM
}

void loop() {
  // Read sensor values
  int rainValue = analogRead(rainSensorPin);
  int proximityValue = digitalRead(proximitySensorPin);

  // Determine material type
  if (rainValue > 500) { // Wet material detected
    Serial.println("Wet material detected");
    rotateCompartment(0); // Rotate to wet compartment
  } else if (proximityValue == HIGH) { // Metal detected
    Serial.println("Metal detected");
    rotateCompartment(1); // Rotate to metal compartment
  } else { // Assume plastic if no other material detected
    Serial.println("Plastic detected");
    rotateCompartment(2); // Rotate to plastic compartment
  }

  // Drop material
  dropMaterial();

  // Wait before next detection
  delay(2000);
}

void rotateCompartment(int compartment) {
  // Rotate stepper motor to the correct compartment
  int steps = compartment * (stepsPerRevolution / 3); // Assuming 3 compartments
  myStepper.step(steps);
}

void dropMaterial() {
  // Use servo to drop material
  myServo.write(90); // Open gate
  delay(1000); // Wait for material to drop
  myServo.write(0); // Close gate
}

Key Features

Multi-sensor waste classification
Automated rotating compartment using stepper motor
Servo-controlled drop gate mechanism
Real-time material-based sorting logic
Efficient and eco-friendly waste management prototype
Ideal for smart city and sustainability projects

Applications

Smart dustbin systems
Automated recycling units
Smart city waste management models
Environmental engineering projects
Robotics and embedded systems exhibitions

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