CMB6 - Certainly! — Here's a team name - Bottles Ping

Ping bottles to have them picked up on your behalf or become a collector, using our live map and photo system to find, verify, and collect recyclables near you.

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Inspiration

Our project was inspired by two major problems we noticed in modern cities:

Urban congestion and waste overflow, garbage buildup is often one of the most visible consequences of rapid urbanization.

Social empathy for the less fortunate, many individuals experiencing homelessness already collect recyclables to earn a small income. We wanted to create a system that helps both sides: those who want to responsibly recycle, and those who rely on bottle collection as a source of income.

What it does

Bottles Ping connects people who want to recycle (“pinners”) with local collectors who can pick up bottles for cash.

Users can ping bottle locations with photos.

Collectors see nearby pings on a live map, navigate to them, and collect verified recyclables.

How we built it

Cloud Infrastructure (AWS): We strategically utilized multiple AWS services, demonstrating a comprehensive, strategic approach. Every upload is stored in AWS S3 for image analysis and saved to our PostgreSQL RDS database. The backend runs in AWS ECS containers.

The frontend is built using React Native (Expo). This app interfaces with the Google Maps API to get real-time routes and navigation to bottles near you, with pins posted by users and picked up by collectors.

Challenges we ran into

  • Debugging Docker-based deployments on ARM Mac versus x86 ECS environments a significant infrastructure challenge we successfully navigated.

  • Handling real-time map updates and geolocation accuracy.

  • Designing a UI that felt simple enough for all users while integrating backend intelligence.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Real-World Application: Built a successful mobile app that directly addresses both an urban sustainability challenge and a social inclusion need.

  • Cloud Pipeline Mastery: Integrating multiple AWS services, S3, RDS, and ECS, into a cohesive, functional cloud pipeline.

  • Used AWS, Docker, and React properly to accomplish a good project.

The idea that can be expanded to contribute more to our community and our environment.

What we learned

Cloud Pipeline Mastery: How to integrate multiple AWS services (S3, RDS, ECS) in a single cloud pipeline.

  • Efficient real-time data flows between frontend and backend.

  • The importance of user experience and accessibility in sustainability-driven apps.

What's next for CMB6 - Certainly! — Here's a team name - Bottles Ping

The next steps for Bottles Ping involve deepening our community impact and refining our core technology:

  • AI for Specific Recyclable Types: We will pursue the integration of a specialized AI model to detect the specific type of recyclable (e.g., PET plastic, aluminum, different types of glass). This will enable us to use that data to provide dynamic, market-rate cost estimations to collectors, increasing their earning potential and incentivizing them to collect higher-value items.

  • Collector Workflow Optimization: Introduce features for collector rating and gamification (e.g., bonus incentives for high completion rates) to ensure reliability for "pinners" and increase overall platform efficiency.

  • Strategic Partnerships and Outreach: Focus on establishing partnerships with local non-profits and shelters to streamline the onboarding process for new collectors and plan for geographic expansion to surrounding urban areas.

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