Daniel KINUMBI, an innovator supported by the project ‘ the Valorisation des Déchets pour un Environnement sain‘  in  DRC (VaDech-RDCongo), has developed a robot garbage can, a device equipped with sensors and cameras capable of detecting the movements of people in front of the garbage can. This intelligent robot has several compartments for sorting plastic, metal and biodegradable (organic) waste. It is powered by solar panels, which guarantee the operation of the automation and intelligent recognition systems. When a bin is filled, the opening of the garbage can is automatically locked, and a call is made directly to the garbage collectors to empty it.
Collected plastic waste is recycled into ecological paving stones, and biodegradable waste into compost.
The first model of this intelligent garbage can has been installed in the courtyard of the Tshopo Governorate, at the request of the city’s governor.

In the coming months, this device will contribute to the Tshopo Masala sanitation program. Thanks to the PDTIE‘s innovations, young people are taking ownership of the challenges of sustainable development by proposing solutions for waste management and the fight against environmental degradation. This initiative also encourages young people to get involved in sustainable innovation, while creating local jobs and contributing to the fight against poverty.

The VaDech-RDCongo project lead by the University of Goma (UNIGOM) is one of the 15 third-party projects funded by PDTIE under the ACP Innovation Fund.