Puanton

Convenient and sustainable kitchen waste recycling system
Overview
Problem

In Taiwan, kitchen waste makes up 40% of total garbage, but less than 10% is recycled due to a lack of a unified system and inconsistent district policies. Insufficient transport containers also lead to waste being discarded with general garbage, highlighting the need for a more cohesive recycling system.

Goal

A kitchen waste recycling system to make it convenient and even fashionable to recycle kitchen waste, improve the recycling rate, and use it to generate electricity.

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This was a 9 months long project as part of the graduation final project.

Team

Tzu-Hsien Kuo
Yi-Ting Liu

My Role

Product design

Timeline

9 months

outcome

Final design overview

01. The container: Puanton

A disposal container made from waterproof material derived from fermented food residue. Both the containers and processed food waste can be recycled to generate electricity.

02. Food waste processor

It is specifically designed to prepare waste for electricity generation, with easy operation that starts the entire process at the press of a button.

03. Gathering station

The stations will be placed along recycling truck routes and easily accessible locations. When a gathering station reaches capacity, our staff will collect the used containers and deliver fresh ones to the power plant. This ensures uninterrupted operation and maximum convenience for families, as the system runs 24/7.

[ What is the kitchen waste disposal cycle in Taiwan? ]
secondary Research

The low recycling rate leads to external costs.

In Taiwan, due to the lack of a proper sewerage system, it is not possible to use a garbage disposal unit to dispose of kitchen waste by grinding it up and flushing it down the drain, as is commonly done in the United States. Below is the process of kitchen waste treatment with different types of residential properties in Taiwan.

Due to the lack of an integrated kitchen waste recycling system, people and waste collectors often dispose of it with general waste, leading to incineration. This practice harms the environment and imposes external costs on both incinerators and the ecosystem.

User journey map

The situation in Taiwan.

01.
Kitchen waste recycling rate is decreasing annually.
02.
40% of the waste generated is comprised of kitchen waste.
[ What causes the low recycling rate of kitchen waste? ]
01. Insufficient recycling bins

The kitchen waste collection bins on the garbage truck are insufficient to accommodate the amount of food waste produced, leading to some of the waste being thrown directly into the general garbage.

02. For convenience

Some people may not separate their kitchen waste and directly throw it into the general garbage bin for convenience.

[ Why aren't the households able to recycle kitchen waste properly? ]
User Research

Inconvenient and unpleasant disposal process.

We conducted secondary research to understand households’ disposal experiences and validated the findings through a survey(n=138).

01. Need to be on time
Households must dispose of food waste by catching the garbage truck on time. If they miss it, they have to wait for the next pick-up. However, without proper storage, food waste quickly produces unpleasant odors.
02. Foul smell
The foul smell and unappealing appearance of food waste can be off-putting, leading to feelings of disgust or repulsion.
03. Unfriendly for environment
About 84% of people use plastic bags for kitchen waste disposal because they find cleaning a reusable bucket unappealing, making this practice unsustainable.
The way of they classify kitchen waste
Containers for disposing of kitchen waste
Where households dispose of kitchen waste
The container that users wish to use for storing kitchen waste

Target users were defined.

Households without centralized garbage collection who struggle to catch the garbage truck on time.

[ So, how can we maximize the value of kitchen waste? ]

1 ton of food waste capable of producing 100 degrees of electricity.

Through research and expert consultation, we found that kitchen waste can be used to generate electricity. With Taiwan producing around 6,100 tons of kitchen waste daily, this large amount of kitchen waste offers a promising opportunity for sustainable energy production.

Design goal

To create a waste-to-energy system that allows individuals to effectively manage their kitchen waste at home while eliminating unpleasant odors.

Design

Ideations

We have done marketing research and found that most of the kitchen appliances are square. Therefore, we want our product to be suitable for kitchen, so we have come up with a simple shape, which is composed of rectangle and circle.

The container
The appliance

Final design

The container: Puanton

Puanton is an essential part of our mission to simplify food waste recycling for families. This recyclable container requires no washing before disposal and is made from waterproof material derived from fermented food residue, which can be directly recycled to generate electricity. This makes it both organic and eco-friendly.

We utilized  3D printing, ABS plastic, and paper materials to create some prototypes.

Food waste processor

Unlike existing products that convert food waste into fertilizer; instead, we prepare them for generating electricity.

Our machine put processed food waste into Puanton, leaving users to cap it. Along with a simple interface, it gives users a clean and neat feeling.

01. Consume the food.

02. Place the food waste into the machine.

03. Insert Puanton containers into the machine, allowing for automated filling of processed food waste.

04. Press the start button and wait for the machine to shred and dry the food waste.

Gathering station

Our gathering stations are strategically located along recycling truck routes, at convenience stores, and other accessible spots. Similar to vending machines, once a station reaches capacity, our staff collects the used Puanton containers and delivers fresh ones to the power plant. This ensures continuous operation and convenience for families, with the system running 24/7.

To further enhance the user experience, our system features a user-friendly application that calculates electricity discounts based on the weight of food waste contributed, incentivizing active participation in recycling. Additionally, the app includes a mini-map showing nearby gathering stations, making it easy for users to find the most convenient drop-off points for their food waste.

CMF

We have designed a range of common colors for the processor to cater to various kitchen styles and preferences. This allows users to choose a color that best complements their kitchen aesthetics, ensuring the processor seamlessly integrates into their kitchen setup. With multiple color options available, users can select the one that matches their style and enhances their kitchen's overall look.

LOHAS white

conservative gents blue

classic black

Logo design (designed by me :)
Exhibition
Reflection

Where to Improve

The mechanics and user flow still need to be evaluated and refined to create optimal user experiences.

Throughout this project, I have identified areas that require improvement. For instance, we still need to refine the mechanics to ensure our product functions effectively. Additionally, we need to address certain flaws of taking kitchen waste to the gathering station in order to enhance the overall user experience.

What I’ve learned

Think creativity and sustainability!

This is my first experience working on such a massive project, and upon reflecting on it, I realize that it has greatly expanded my knowledge of sustainability design. It has truly opened my eyes to the fact that we still have countless opportunities to impact the environment positively.

Despite these challenges, I have gained valuable insights from this project, including the opportunity to interview experts and gain a deeper understanding of how kitchen waste can be converted into electricity. It has also encouraged me to think creatively and find innovative solutions to everyday problems that can contribute to environmental sustainability.