TetraBIN Makes Trash Disposal Fun!

What do you get when you combine an 8-bit-style game, 900 LEDs, and a trash can? Only the most amazing waste disposal system ever: TetraBIN!

This trash can, if you can use such a lowly moniker for it, was developed by Steven Bai and the Sencity team as a creative way of motivating positive change in urban environments, which in this case, turns the trivial task of depositing garbage into an enjoyable event.

Nearly a thousand LEDs are wrapped around TetraBIN’s three-sided exterior and covered with a layer of translucent polycarbonate. These lights — as seen in the video below — can display a game that looks reminiscent of Tetris, but instead of a joystick or gamepad, participants control the game by the timing of disposal and what shape of refuse is tossed into it.

The container can also show a side-scrolling green field where bats fly through the air and dogs wait on the ground crying, “Feed me!” TetraBIN is lined with motion sensors that detect when something is thrown away, and translate a discarded item into chicken drumsticks on the LED screen. Successfully feeding the dog results in a code that can be redeemed on the TetraBIN website. The idea is that pedestrians will earn various rewards by playing.

Gamification aside, TetraBIN is capable of alerting owners of its fill levels, collecting usage data, and even enabling customizable messages to be shown on the LED screens via an online management portal. Looking ahead, Sencity is hoping to partner with cities like New York to bring the TetraBIN to the masses.

[h/t Engadget]