Ecofriend.ly

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Inspiration

New York City generates nearly eight million tons of waste annually—four million from homes and another four million from businesses and offices. This waste often ends up in landfills, incinerators, or pollutes our streets and waterways, significantly contributing to climate change. Inspired by this alarming reality and the visible litter on college campuses, we created Ecofriend.ly to empower individuals to take meaningful action against waste accumulation, fostering cleaner communities and a greener planet.

What it does

Ecofriend.ly leverages AI to identify waste types and environmental impacts from user-submitted photos. It records trash locations, sends automated cleanup requests to the appropriate authorities, and displays the locations on a shared map. To make the process engaging, users earn points for submissions and compete on a leaderboard, gamifying the act of keeping their surroundings clean.

How we built it

We developed Ecofriend.ly using:

React Native for the mobile application framework.
Nativewind (Tailwind for React Native) for responsive and modern UI styling.
Firebase Auth for secure user authentication and Firestore DB for real-time data storage.
Gemini AI to scan and identify waste, providing details like waste type, confidence score, and environmental impact.
Google Maps API to visualize trash locations on an interactive map.
EmailJS for automatically notifying authorities with precise waste details and location information.

Challenges we ran into

This project introduced several firsts for us, including:

Using React Native as a cross-platform framework, which required learning its nuances for efficient development.
Integrating the Gemini AI model to identify waste, ensuring accurate data fetching and seamless interactions with other app components.
Coordinating multiple APIs for real-time data processing while maintaining a smooth user experience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Seamlessly integrating AI technology for real-world waste detection and reporting.
Building a visually appealing, user-friendly interface with gamification elements to boost user engagement.
Automating the reporting process through efficient email communication with local authorities.
Delivering a functional cross-platform app addressing a pressing environmental issue within a short timeframe.

What we learned

React Native’s potential for rapid cross-platform development.
Integrating machine learning models like Gemini AI into mobile applications.
Managing data flows and API interactions for robust app functionality.
How gamification and a user-centric design can drive engagement and encourage positive behavior.

What's next for Ecofriend.ly

Enhancing the AI model to detect more types of waste and suggest recycling or disposal methods.
Introducing a reward system where users can redeem points for tangible incentives.
Partnering with local governments and waste management services to ensure effective and timely waste cleanup.
Developing heatmaps to identify high-waste areas for targeted community cleanup efforts.
Expanding outreach through collaborations with schools, colleges, and community organizations to drive adoption and awareness.