CASSE
Increased recycling and better data insights at recycling sites
Coignite, in collaboration with TheNewsort ApS, has developed Direkt Genbrug, a mobile application that helps increase recycling at Danish recycling sites. The app detects items that are picked up from recycling sites and gives both citizens and municipalities a clear insight into recycling activities. At the same time, the app raises awareness about the positive environmental impact of recycling through real-time calculations of carbon savings.
Flutter (Dart)
Vue.js
Directus CMS
Postgres
The challenge
TheNewsort ApS wanted to make recycling at recycling sites more visible and engaging for citizens, while giving municipalities access to better data insights for optimizing recycling lands' processes. There was a need to engage citizens in recycling efforts and ensure accurate data that could support municipalities' sustainability goals.
The challenge lay in creating a tool that was both intuitive and reliable, while keeping development costs to a minimum. As the project was the company's first MVP, it was particularly important to balance ambition with a financially responsible approach.
The solution
Coignite has developed the Direct Recycling app, a customer portal and an external API that together create an effective solution to promote recycling and sustainability. To ensure high functionality while keeping costs low, we chose to build the solution on Directus CMS, which provides extensive opportunities for rapid development and flexible customization.
- User-friendly app: Developed in Flutter, it allows to build to both iOS and Android simultaneously. The app makes it easy for citizens to register items from recycling sites with pictures, type and number. These records are used to calculate carbon savings.
- Geofencing technology: Ensures that data is recorded only at approved recycling sites, guaranteeing accuracy and reliability in data collection.
- Customer Portal: Built on Directus CMS, it enables municipalities and recycling operators to manage registrations and content within the app. The portal supports language versioning and allows for easy configuration of the app directly from the backend.
- Data analysis: Dashboards deliver real-time insights and KPIs to help identify trends and optimize recycling efforts.
- External API: Enables visualization and strategic use of data to enhance efficiency and sustainability in recycling sites.
This solution leverages the power of Flutter and Directus CMS to create a scalable, user-friendly and cost-effective platform that supports both citizen involvement and municipal sustainability goals.
Collaboration
The collaboration with TheNewsort has been a close and iterative process where the focus has been on developing a solution that makes it simple and intuitive for users to register items from the recycling site. The biggest challenge lay in creating a solution that was both functional and easy to use for all users.
Through a combination of close dialogue and rapid prototyping, we managed to develop a user-friendly app in a short time. The solution was thoroughly tested with a panel of users directly at the recycling sites, and feedback from the tests was used for continuous customizations and optimization of the user experience.
The result is an app that requires minimal support thanks to its intuitive design and ease of use. It streamlines the process for both users and recycling sites and has thus created a solution that makes a real difference in everyday life.
Results
The Direct Recycling app has created a significant positive effect on recycling sites and delivered value for both citizens and municipalities:
- Increased civic engagement: Over 10,000 downloads in just six months underscores the app's success in actively involving citizens in recycling efforts.
- Greater recycling activity: More citizens pick up items from the recycling sites, reducing waste volumes and supporting a circular economy.
- Environmental gains: Interactive dashboards at recycling sites show citizens their carbon savings, raising awareness of environmental impact and promoting sustainable behaviour.
- Cost-effectiveness: The technology solution, built on Flutter and Directus CMS, ensures a cost-effective and flexible platform that can be adapted to future needs.
The app combines intuitive ease of use, data-driven insights and sustainability to empower recycling efforts and deliver measurable results. It is not just a tool, but a catalyst for increased environmental awareness and better use of resources.
