🌿 Turning Waste into Value: A Home-Based System for a Sustainable Future

In urban environments like Mexico City, where over 13,000 tons of solid waste are produced daily, poor waste management has become a serious environmental challenge. Most of this waste ends up mixed, unvalued, and forgotten in landfills — spaces that release harmful gases, contaminate water, and contribute to climate change. But what if we looked at waste not as trash, but as a resource?

As a designer committed to sustainable living, I created a home-based waste separation system that helps families turn everyday waste into something valuable. This system was part of my undergraduate thesis and was developed through Design Thinking methodology, focusing on user needs, environmental impact, and local production.

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🛠️ The System: Three Components, One Goal

1. A Pre-composting unit Designed to process organic kitchen waste efficiently. Capable of storing up to 5 kg of organic matter per week, this unit facilitates the early stages of biodegradation in a controlled, low-oxygen environment. Its airtight biopolymer seal minimizes aerobic activity, accelerating the formation of pre-compost—a nutrient-rich substrate ideal for integration into larger composting systems.
2. Exclusively intended for non-animal organic waste.

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🌿 Materials Selection

Carefully selected to ensure durability, functionality, and sustainability.

• Stainless Steel Chosen for its high corrosion resistance, recyclability, and clean aesthetic. Ideal for components requiring strength and long-term performance.
• Canadian FSC®-Certified Maple Wood Locally sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®, this hardwood offers a renewable and low-impact option. Its warm, natural texture brings tactile and visual balance to the design.
• Bio-Polymer (TPE – Thermoplastic Elastomer) A flexible, partially bio-based elastomer that combines the performance of rubber with the recyclability of thermoplastics. Selected for its grip, comfort, and potential to reduce petroleum-based plastic use.
• Ceramic Used for its thermal stability, food safety, and smooth finish. This inert material complements the rest of the palette with a refined, minimalist feel.

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🌍 Why It Matters

This project aligns with four UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• #11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Encouraging responsible waste management within homes.
• #12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Promoting daily habits of separation and recycling.
• #13 – Climate Action: Reducing methane emissions from landfills through composting.
• #15 – Life on Land: Restoring soil health with compost and reducing plastic pollution.

Combining design, education, and technology, this system empowers users to be active agents in the circular economy — starting from their own kitchens.