The amount of trash, whether in the oceans, forests, or urban areas, has grown significantly. In several states in the U.S., such as California, recycling efforts have proven inefficient due to the scarcity of recycling centers, exacerbated by the ending of shipments of recycling material from the United States to other countries. As a result, a surplus of waste has accumulated, worsening the environmental crisis.
WasteWizard aims to decrease environmental pollution as well as waste mismanagement and save wildlife both on land and in water (by decreasing ocean and land pollution). The app classifies various different types of trash, including plastics, electronic waste, batteries, metals, and biological waste, from the iPhone camera or photo library. It leverages computer vision and machine learning to inform users how to dispose of a specific piece of trash. In addition to this, WasteWizard also gives users a map of nearby waste disposal facilities.