The De-CAN-Taminator

Sep 2023 – Apr 2024

The De-CAN-Taminator

The goal of this project was to make the recycling process more engaging, informative, and effective. Our group chose to prioritize recycling aluminum cans among consumers in the local community as aluminum is extremely cost-efficient and infinitely recyclable, yet only recycled 45.2% of the time. Based on my original design, together we created The De-CAN-Taminator, an aluminum can collection device that simultaneously entertains and educates users through an informational light display. The machine weighs cans with a load cell and accepts cans ready for recycling with a servo-operated trapdoor.

I served as Project Lead on the team of 5, developer of the original idea for The De-CAN-Taminator, head manufacturer (lots of woodworking), and lead presenter. Under my task delegation and constant encouragement to improve, my team quickly excelled while also becoming a close-knit group. When two of our critical components broke the night before our design exposition, I was the one keeping the team together and focused, offering creative solution after solution to execute until we had achieved the function and quality we originally set out to. My efforts were rewarded when we won our class' Best in Section Award the following day.

This experience reinforced to me the importance of flexibility, level-headedness, and organized leadership. Additionally, it was also a great way to learn and apply CAD, laser cutting, 3D printing, woodworking, electronics/circuitry, and coding.

Winner in the Category of Innovation — $1,000
Student Ideas Showcase, CU Campus Sustainability Summit 2024

Winner of Class Section Award
Engineering Design Exposition, 2023

Our team, The Doorstoppers, accepting a $1,000 award for Innovation.

We were incredibly excited for a team reunion to enter the 2024 Campus Climate Expo! This opportunity opened my eyes to the remarkable innovations my peers were developing to combat climate change, showing me that as an individual, there is so much impact I can have on the world through my creations. It was truly an amazing full-circle moment working with this brilliant team and reviving the project that taught me so much about the engineering design process! Article Mention →

Campus Climate Expo
Glimpse Into My Build Process!
Frame design1

The initial frame design changed to make the top arch detachable for storage purposes.

Frame for recycling bins2

The frame was created to house the specific recycling bin sizes CU Boulder uses.

Cutting arches3

In total, I cut 12 arches with a jigsaw before gluing and sanding them to achieve a 3D LED track. This took a lot of patience but was worth it.

Completed wood frame4

From this point, the wood frame was complete. Flattened aluminum cans were added to the side and acrylic to the front.

Electronics implementation5

Critical components of the LEDs, load cell, and trapdoor were successfully implemented from there.

Final device6

The final device included an informational poster, more LEDs, and acrylic to protect the electronics.

Can rejection7

Aluminum cans with liquid in them cannot be recycled in Boulder, so our machine rejects them.

Can acceptance8

If the user has properly emptied their can first, it is accepted with a colorful reward!

Project Documentation and Critical Components Explained

Technical report detailing the research, complete design process, and testing & analysis of the project.

Poster used at both expositions to summarize and explain the project to the public and judges.

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