An automatic toxic gas detection and alerting system in public garbage bins

Abstract

Uganda is facing rapid urbanization of 5.1% per annum, leading to overcrowding and the development of slums and informal settlements with poor waste management practices. The growing number of people living in urban areas has led to increased waste generation capacities. The competence of the city managers to regularly monitor the waste bin is low. Mismanagement of waste in public garbage bins exposes the area to diseases such as coughing, shortness of breath, and eye irritation due to the high concentration of toxic gases produced by the decaying garbage in the garbage bin which pollutes the air. To minimize people’s health implications caused by air pollution due to toxic gases produced by decaying garbage and to improve the cleanness of society, an automatic toxic gas detection and alerting system in public garbage bins is designed, which detects the level of toxic gases produced by the decaying garbage by the use of gas sensors, MQ-136, MQ-137, TGS-2611 for hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane respectively, detects the level of the garbage with the help of ultrasonic sensor and sent to the authorized agency for garbage collection through GSM system when the toxic gas levels and garbage levels exceed the threshold with the GPS location of the public garbage bin. An ultrasonic sensor is used to detect the presence of the garbage and a servo motor automatically opened and closed the bin. LCD for displaying the values. The GSM, GPS, LCD, Servo motor, and the peripheral sensors used are interfaced through the Arduino microcontroller.