Virtual Booth

SMART EM BIN

An Innovative Smart Food-Waste Bin Powered by Effective Microorganisms (EM) and the Internet of Things (IoT)

MUHAMMAD HAZRIQ BIN ARIS1 ,NUR DAHLIA AERYSHA BINTI NORAFZANIZAM2 , NIA KARMILLA QISTINA BINTI MUHAMMAD ADHA3 ,MUHAMMAD HARITH ASYRAAF BIN AZMAN4 NUR BALQIS BATRISYIA BINTI TAUFEEK5

 1,2,3,4,5MRSM ARAU

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Excessive disposal of food waste has become a critical environmental issue, particularly in developing nations such as Malaysia. Each day, an estimated 15,000 tonnes of edible biomass are discarded, despite the fact that the majority remains suitable for conversion into valuable organic fertilizer. The prevailing lack of an effective, affordable, and user-friendly system for managing organic waste has led most food residues to end up in landfills, where they decompose anaerobically and emit greenhouse gases, foul odors, and leachates. Addressing these challenges requires an innovative approach that combines biotechnological enhancement with real-time monitoring to optimize composting outcomes. In response, this project presents the Smart EM Bin, a compact, integrated composting unit that leverages Effective Microorganisms (EM) technology alongside Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. The principal aim is to develop a small-scale system capable of accelerating organic decomposition while providing end users with actionable insights through a mobile application. By enabling precise control over environmental parameters, the Smart EM Bin seeks to transform household and community waste management practices into sustainable models. The system incorporates temperature and weight sensors directly interfaced with a NodeMCU/ESP32 microcontroller. Data streams such as internal bin temperature, moisture estimates, and fill level are transmitted via Wi-Fi to the Blynk cloud platform, where users can access real-time analytics and receive alerts. Additionally, an automated agitation mechanism, driven by a programmable actuator, periodically stirs the composting mass to maintain homogeneity and ensure continued microbial activity. This design empowers users to monitor and adjust composting parameters without manual intervention.Preliminary field tests reveal that EM augmentation reduces composting duration by 60–70% compared to conventional methods, achieving mature, nutrient-rich compost within two to three weeks. IoT integration further enhances operational efficiency by facilitating remote oversight and timely interventions, resulting in improved user engagement and system reliability.In conclusion, the Smart EM Bin not only provides an environmentally responsible pathway for diverting food waste from landfills but also holds significant commercial promise as a high-impact green technology. Its novelty resides in the seamless fusion of biotechnological enhancement and intelligent automation, offering a scalable model for sustainable waste management and contributing substantially to global efforts in pollution reduction and resource recovery.

Keywords: Effective Microorganisms; food waste; Internet of Things; organic fertilizer; sustainable innovation