The rapid increase in global waste generation has created an urgent demand for innovative, sustainable, and intelligent waste management solutions. Despite the implementation of Malaysia’s 5R framework (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover) ineffective waste segregation remains a major challenge, leading to recyclable contamination, reduced recovery efficiency, and increased environmental impact. Addressing this issue, this project, EcoSortX: Design, Fabrication, and Performance Analysis of a Smart Waste Segregator, introduces an innovative automated waste segregation system developed to enhance recycling efficiency and promote sustainable environmental practices. EcoSortX integrates advanced sensor-based detection with automated mechanical actuation to accurately segregate plastic, paper, and metal waste in real time. The system is powered by an Arduino microcontroller, utilizing inductive proximity sensors for precise metal identification and infrared sensing technology for non-metal waste recognition. A servo-controlled dynamic sorting mechanism automatically directs waste into dedicated compartments, minimizing human intervention while improving operational efficiency and sorting accuracy. The system was successfully designed, fabricated, and experimentally evaluated through comprehensive performance testing under multiple waste input conditions. Results demonstrated high segregation accuracy, rapid response time, and reliable operational performance, significantly reducing cross-contamination commonly associated with manual waste sorting processes. The compact, cost-effective, and scalable design enhances its suitability for deployment in households, educational institutions, commercial facilities, and industrial environments. Beyond automation, EcoSortX directly supports sustainable waste management by strengthening recycling practices, encouraging responsible waste disposal behavior, and contributing toward cleaner and smarter communities. The innovation also demonstrates strong future commercialization potential through possible integration with IoT monitoring, AI-based waste recognition, and smart city waste management systems. By combining intelligent sensing technology, automation, and sustainability-driven engineering, EcoSortX represents a practical and impactful solution for next-generation waste management, aligning with global sustainability goals and advancing the development of smart environmental technologies.
