May 30, 2024
Since January 2024, CSUN has partnered with Zabble, a Zero Waste Management Platform, to monitor contamination and fullness of its interior and exterior bins on campus. This cutting-edge platform is revolutionizing waste management practices at CSUN, ushering in a new era of efficiency in sustainability.
At the heart of Zabble AI is its ability to optimize waste management processes. By leveraging advanced algorithms and real-time data analysis, the software automates waste data collection, providing invaluable insights into waste generation patterns. This allows CSUN to optimize waste collection schedules, allocate resources more effectively, and identify areas for improvement.
Real-time waste bin tagging is facilitated by software on a smartphone, enabling the automated collection and aggregation of data. This process provides valuable insights into waste patterns and trends, allowing CSUN’s Sustainability team to pinpoint areas needing attention, outreach, or education. Such detailed information ensures the campus sorts waste correctly and benefits from optimized waste management services.
One of the most exciting aspects of Zabble AI is its ability to engage the campus community in its Zero Waste efforts. Through educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, CSUN is leveraging the power of Zabble AI to educate students, faculty, and staff about the importance of waste reduction and proper recycling practices. CSUN’s SUST 410 - Applied Sustainability class students were among the first to try the tool out and research the process. During their 4-week long data collection project, they opted to monitor waste contamination in specific buildings on a daily basis. This collaborative effort between the facilities department and faculty plays a crucial role in boosting student participation in zero waste initiatives. While AI does have its limitations, leveraging its power alongside data analytics across CSUN's 353-acre campus is undoubtedly poised to bring the university closer to achieving its Roadmap to Sustainability goals.
