BinBuddy

Type

UX + ServiceDesign

Timeline

2 months

Role

Designer, Researcher

The Problem

Residents in smaller Indian cities typically practice basic waste segregation only when externally enforced, with low awareness of recycling, littering impacts, and proper disposal of complex waste types. A solution is needed to drive informed, community-supported, and intrinsically motivated waste management behaviors.

Design Process

Spotted a Real-World Gap i.e improper waste segregation, design felt like a potential solution to this
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Researched Modelsconducted surveys, interviews, mapped insights for the solution from these
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Mapped a solution combining physical and digital interventions grounded in the Fogg Behavior Model.
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Designed & Prototyped the BinBuddy App, posters, badges, 3D Mockups of Bins, building a cohesive, behavior-driven service.

Research

Primary Research (Interviews)

I conducted in-depth interviews with: Local residents across age groups and occupations, Municipal workers and waste pickers, Household helpers and informal recyclers.

Key Learnings

Influenced by community behavior – if neighbors don’t do it, they feel less inclined to do it themselves

No access to segregated bins or support from local bodies

Waste often left unattended due to irregular collection

If waste is not collected, residents dont think once before litterting their surroundings

They have somewhat of a basic idea of what happens to the waste but not completely

Secondary Research

Survey

Across 25+ partcipants in 22-60 yrs range to map habits and barriers

Study Global Models

of successful models from Indore, and global case studies like Japan, South Korea and Sweden

Desk Research

Behavioral change strategies, Swachh Bharat data, UNICEF reports, and urban sanitation frameworks

Survey

Global Models

Target Group

Insight Synthesis

Using affinity mapping, I synthesized research into categories, current practices and habits, Awareness, Motivators, Barriers, Tools & Infastructure, Social Influences. Adding some categories here for better understanding of this.

Solution Goals

Build intrinsic motivation for consistent segregation
Make correct segregation easier and more accessible
Introduce community recognition and behavioral nudges
Create feedback loops through digital and physical interventions

Design Approach

The Solution draws from the Fogg Behaviour Model which states that “Behavior happens when Motivation, Ability, and a Prompt come together at the same time. When a behavior does not occur, at least one of those three elements is missing.”

Service Blueprint

Mapped the current waste management journey and designed the future-state experience, integrating both physical and digital touchpoints at every stage.

BinBuddy is a waste management service tailored for smaller Indian cities, aiming to shift household behavior from passive compliance to active, informed participation in waste segregation.
The solution operates through a blended service ecosystem

BinBuddy Solution Summary

Digital Layer – BinBuddy App

Track Your Waste: Households can view daily/weekly waste output, separated into wet and dry categories.

Reward System: Earn points for correct segregation and consistent behavior, view leaderboards, and redeem recognition.

Tutorial Section: Learn about all things related to waste segregation and management.

Pickup Schedule & Alerts: Real-time updates on waste collection timings and prompts to prepare bins.

AI Waste Identifier: Users can upload a photo of an item to get instant feedback on which bin it belongs to making segregation easier and more accurate.

Physical Layer – On-ground Interventions

RFID Card

Issued to each household and scanned during pickup to log waste quantity and type.

Color-coded Bins

Separate, clearly marked bins for wet, dry, e-waste, and sanitary waste to reduce confusion.

Informational Posters

Visual aids placed inside homes to assist in daily sorting decisions.

Recognition Badges

Visual aids placed inside homes to assist in daily sorting decisions.

Outcome

A comprehensive service + UX solution that doesn’t just enforce change it nurtures it. BinBuddy bridges awareness and action with a system designed for real people and real behavior patterns.

Takeways

Design must respect context: smaller cities have their own behavioral rhythms
Behavioral models like Fogg’s offer concrete grounding for habit-change systems
Service design helps uncover non-digital levers often missed in UX-only approaches

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