Greensmart Solutions proprietor Eric Munene unveiled his automated waste collection and management system.
The Multimedia University student showcased his innovation at the inaugural Young Scientists Kenya exhibition which was held at the Kenya International Conference Center in early August 2019. The automated bin system model encourages the reduce, reuse, recycle environmental conservation model using AI ( Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning for robotics to sort waste. The reward system app integrated into the model encourages Kenyans to recycle and earn points for doing so.
Munene explained that he set up the innovation to combat the increasing environmental degradation that is occurring due to manufacturing waste. Munene said, “The reason why we started this company is because of the impact we have had on the environment so far. There is a large pile of plastics floating in our oceans. There is a crisis because of our climate, and it is all because the previous generation did not put much emphasis on recycling the water. So we came up with the project, where we are giving incentives to our users and we get back the money and create a circular economy where manufacturers do not use up what is on the earth but recycle what they have already produced.” Munene’s automated bin management system is set to roll out across Kenyan varsity campuses first before expanding into the public.
Other exhibitors present included David Kiarie who developed a dual side agricultural spray. The innovation uses kinetic energy from pushing the machine which is converted into linear energy to cause a pumping action that feeds the water into the dual-sided spray. Kiarie who is a student at the Eldoret National Polytechnic studying Automatic Engineering revealed he hopes the innovation will help further automate the agricultural process.
Jane Kinyutu from the Coast Institute of Technology also showcased a banana wine she hopes will rival imported wines at the Young Scientists Kenya fair. The banana wine is made from locally grown bananas and is hailed to be a healthy alcoholic drink that could cater even to diabetics due to its low glycemic content. Speaking to The Sauce, Kinyutu who is a Food and Beverage trainer at the Coast Institute of Technology pointed out that the beverage is set to be presented to the Kenya Beurue of Standards, after which she hopes it will go into mass production.
The Young Scientists Kenya is a newly established platform in East Africa, for young people from across Kenyan counties to demonstrate their innovation and showcase their scientific creations. According to their site, the exhibition gave a platform to the young, talented scientists to showcase their innovations and solutions towards national development, and attainment of the BIG 4 Agenda and Vision 2030.
