An bin that could help reduce the amount of waste plastic entering the seas has been designed by a student in a competition organised by environmental charity the GreenSeas Trust.
Nine students from the University of East London were asked to invent a bin that would remind beach visitors to throw away litter responsibly.
The winning concept, produced by 19-year-old Laura Monica Carusato, takes its inspiration from the ventilation shafts of passenger liners of a bygone era.
“It’s designed so people don’t just place or drop plastic in the bin. They throw it in, so it becomes fun, something children and adults can enjoy, like playing basketball,” she said.
The BinForGreenSeas project, organised by the trust and supported by West Sussex's Arun District Council and waste management company Biffa, tasked students in the first year of their product design course to make 3D models.
The judging panel comprised Fazilette Khan, founding trustee of GreenSeas and the trust’s project coordinator Edina Seiben, plus Biffa business development manager Karen Sherwood and Darren Wingrove, project manager at Logoplaste Innovation Lab.
They assessed the designs for originality, effectiveness in attracting attention, practicality, serviceability (ease of emptying); and manufacturing cost, sustainability and durability.
Khan, who presented the winner’s trophy, said: "Changing behaviour to stop people leaving their litter on beaches or discarding it into waterways is challenging. We are optimistic this bin design will help do just that."
Arun Council said it hopes to see the design put into production.
Sherwood added: “All the designs submitted showed a lot of thought had gone into them. Laura’s prototype won for its originality of design, ease of use, and because it would be practical to clean and empty.”
But more sponsorship is needed to see the bins brought into use.
