Solar-Powered Bottle Collection System
Solar-Powered Bottle Collection System
Proponents:
RYAN M. ALVAREZ
Project Adviser
PLAN
RATIONALE
The environmental problems caused by plastic waste and the pressing need
for sustainable energy have drawn more attention from the community in recent
years. As a result, a lot of businesses, governments, and people are looking for
creative ways to recycle plastic and lessen their influence on the environment. At
the same time, the growth of digital technology has increased demand for public
connectivity, especially in urban areas. The study explored the design and
access and charging access for plastic deposit for public connectivity. The project
aimed to address the environmental challenges of plastic waste and the need for
sustainable energy solutions. The vending machine not only dispensed products
but also provided free Wi-Fi access and charging station, enhancing public
a. General Problem
b. Specific Problem
1
2. What is the difference between the weight (in grams) of
of RoBOTEch?
a. Aim
in exchange for rewards such as Wi-Fi access and charging port for their gadgets.
power, which supported the use of renewable energy and helps reduce carbon
emissions. The project also aimed to provide internet connectivity and charging
access to individuals, particularly those in remote areas who had limited access to
Ho:
1. There was no difference in the weight of unsegregated bottes before and after
Ha:
1. There was a difference in the weight of unsegregated bottles before and after
2
LIST OF MATERIALS
Solar Controller
PROCEDURES
1. Design Planning – The researchers created a design layout and sketch of the
RoBOTEch, showing where the bottle slot, charging ports, and Wi-Fi modem will
be placed.
3
3. Body Construction – The researchers then built the frame or body of the
vending machine using the chosen materials and assemble the parts according
make the system detect bottles, open the charging station, and provide Wi-Fi
properly detects bottles, activates, the Wi-Fi and allows gadget charging.
and fix wiring or programming issues until the machine works correctly.
finalized the machine by securing all parts and adding labels, decorations, and
RoBOTEch, demonstrated its function, and recoreded the technical data to test
The researchers were concerned about their safety while making the
4
damages in the compartment, the researchers followed safety procedures in using
the hardware tools and materials. They wore face masks in order to avoid inhaling
the fumes of the paint. The researchers also carefully connected the wires to avoid
electrocution. They also wore safety equipment to avoid infection during the
DATA ANALYSIS
implementation
Mean
Before
(Control)
After RoBOTEch
227.62 122.70 175.16
(Experimental)
waste after the implementation of RoBOTEch. The overall mean weight decreased
5
Research Question 2: Statistical difference in bottle collection
Level of
P-value Decision Description
Significance
Failed to accept the null
0.0199 0.05 Significant
hypothesis
Using the paired sample t-test, the computed p-value of 0.0199 was less
than the 0.05 level of significance, the result indicated that there was enough
statistical evidence to reject the null hypothesis. This meant that the difference or
effect tested in the study was statistically significant. In other words, the observed
result indicated that there was a meaningful and significant difference between
Based on the paired sample t-test analysis, the null hypothesis (H₀) stating
that there was no difference between the weight of bottles collected before and
With p-value of 0.0199 (p < 0.05), the alternative hypothesis (Hₐ) is accepted.
difference existed between the weight of bottles collected before and after the
6
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cordova, R. S., & Ortega, R. R. (2023). Renewable Energy Sources and Energy
Production: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Last Five Years. MDPI. 159(3).
pp. 1-22. Retrieved from
[Link]
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2025). Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003). Retrieved from
[Link]
Dormido, R., & González, P. (2017). Smart vending machines: Telemetry and
connectivity for the future of retail. IEEE Transactions on Industrial
Informatics, 13(6), 2936–2945. [Link]/10.1109/TII.2017.2694812
Khan, J., & Arsalan, M. H. (2016). Solar power technologies for sustainable
energy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 414–425.
[Link]/10.1016/[Link].2015.10.135
Moore, C. (2025). Plastic Pollution. Britannica. Retrieved from
[Link]
oceans-and-on-land
Pahlavan, K., & Krishnamurthy, P. (2021). Evolution of Wi-Fi for indoor
geolocation and connectivity. IEEE Communications Magazine, 59(7), 34–
40. [Link]/10.1109/MCOM.001.2000151
PH push for renewable energy yields ground-breaking installations. (2025).
Department of Energy. Retrieved from [Link]
releases/ph-push-renewable-energy-yields-record-breaking-installations
Tscuchimoto, I., & Kajikawa, Y. (2022). Recycling of Plastic Waste: A
Systematic Review Using Bibliometric Analysis. MDPI. 14(24).
[Link]/10.3390/su142416340
Turning off the tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a
circular economy .(2023). United Nations Environmental Programme.
Retrieved from [Link]
pollution-createcircular-economy
World Bank Group. (2022). What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid
waste management to 2050. World Bank Publications.
[Link]
7
II. ISEF-
Forms
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
III.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
pollution and the demand for sustainable energy. Many sought new ways to
repurpose plastic and lessen its impact on the environment. One innovative
concept was a solar-powered vending machine that offered Wi-Fi in exchange for
plastic bottles. This project aimed to reduce plastic waste while utilizing renewable
study was conducted at Sta. Fe Senior High School. The methodology involved
two phases: baseline data collection and a four-week system intervention. The
The results showed that there is a statistically significant reduction in plastic waste
bottles with the p-value of 0.0199 which confirmed that RoBOTEch system helped
reduce the weight of plastic bottles collected after its use. The project turned out
and charging stations could motivate people to manage waste properly. For future
fund the machine’s expenses, and create partnerships with some organizations to
1
IV.
FULLPAPER
2
APPROVAL SHEET
Mendoza, and Crishna Dione T. Pepito, had been examined and recommended
Senior High School to the 2025 Division Science and Technology Fair.
RYAN A. ALVAREZ
Research Coach
______________________________________________________________
Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment for the subject of the Research
Project:
ANNALIZA M. ENRIQUE
Head Teacher V
i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researchers would like to express their deepest gratitude and sincere
appreciation to all those whose support and guidance made this study possible.
First and foremost, to Almighty God, for granting the researchers strength,
valuable advice were instrumental at every stage of this project. Their insightful
emotionally from the beginning to the completion of the research. Without their
encouragement and guidance, this study would not have been possible.
support and encouragement that the researchers needed throughout the making
of this study.
ii
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
born on May 19, 2008 and is the youngest child of Mr. Domingo S. Condes Jr. and
Mrs. Rowena A. Condes. He currently lives in C. Medina St. Poblacion, Santa Fe,
School with honors. He finished his junior high school education in Sta. Fe National
iii
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
was born on April 12, 2008 and is the third child of Mr. Arnold M. Mendoza and
School with honors. He finished his junior high school education in Sta. Fe National
iv
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
was born on May 29, 2008 and is the youngest child of Mr. Ronaldo T. Pepito and
Mrs. Cristina T. Pepito. She currently lives in Tabugon, Santa Fe, Romblon. She
graduated her primary education in Pandan Elementary School with high honors.
She finished her junior high school education in Sta. Fe National High School with
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
TITLE
APPROVAL SHEET i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
CHAPTER I
Introduction 1
Hypothesis 3
Proposed Project 5
CHAPTER II METHODS
Research Design 9
Research Locale 9
Documentation 13-14
CHAPTER IV DISCUSSION 17
REFERENCES 21
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The environmental problems caused by plastic waste and the urgent need
for sustainable energy have drawn increasing attention from the community in
solid waste are collected worldwide each year. As a result, many businesses,
governments, and individuals are seeking creative ways to reuse bottles and
materials to create new products that serve useful purposes and promote
environmental stewardship. At the same time, the growth of digital technology has
costs. Solar power is also vital in the Philippines because of the growing demand
pressing needs is a solar-powered vending machine that offers Wi-Fi and charging
1
access as a reward for inserting plastic bottles. This project aims to provide
reliance on conventional energy sources and minimizing its carbon footprint, the
environment, the use of plastic bottles as the primary building material, and the
reducing the need for new plastic production and its environmental impact.
The vending machines use of these materials not only reduces waste but also
to renewable energy sources. This research aims to provide valuable insights into
machine that offers Wi-Fi in exchange for plastic bottle. The main problem being
2
How could an automated, solar-powered bottle-collecting system effectively
2. What is the difference between the weight (in grams) of unsegregated bottles
HYPOTHESIS
𝐻o: There is no significant difference between the weight (in grams) of the bottles
𝐻𝑎: There is significant difference between the weight (in grams) of the bottles
rewarding them with a Wi-fi connection and charging port. Moreover, the machine
3
The study also focused on providing a Wi-fi connection for the people who
din't have easy access to the internet. With its built-in charging port, RoBOTEch
emissions.
Many people today tried to reduce plastic bottle waste through recycling,
waste segregation, and cleanup drives (Tscuhimoto & Kajikawa, 2022). Schools
garbage bins. However, even with these efforts, plastic bottles were still seen
everywhere because many people were not motivated to recycle. Some still threw
bottles on the ground, in rivers, or in trash piles, which caused pollution and
harmed the environment (Moore, 2025). The current ways of reducing plastic
waste depended mostly on people’s willingness to join, so they were not always
effective. At the same time, the growing demand for renewable energy and internet
access highlighted the need for new ideas that connect technology with
more on digital devices, there was a chance to create projects that promote
4
PROPOSED PROJECT
bottle waste using technology. This solar-powered vending machine would accept
machine would automatically collect and store the bottles so they could be reused
recycling, helping reduce plastic bottle waste while also enjoying free internet and
charging services.
powered vending machine with Wi-fi and charging access for plastic bottles
deposited for public connectivity. The study aimed to promote proper segregation,
while providing internet connectivity to the people. More specifically, this research
people of the community to have a cleaner environment. This reduced waste in the
landfills, and oceans are reduced. This mitigates pollution and protects the
ecosystem.
5
Recycling Systems. RoBOTEch served as an alternative trash can for
People lacking internet access. Many remote areas lack access to the
internet access to those who could not affiord, or to those who currently did not
loss was commonly expected. With RoBOTEch, people easily gained access to
access. This made answering homework more efficient. The project was also
researchers would also construct machines that would innovate the world.
6
SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
and public accessibility. The scope of this research encompasses the design,
enhancing connectivity. The location of the testing area was within Sta. Fe Senior
High School. The users of this project6were the students of Sta. Fe Senior High
School. This study was conducted within the months of January to March.
focusing on specific areas where the vending machine would be installed. Factors
such as the variety of service offered and the demographic profiles of users would
not be extensively analyzed, as the primary goal was to evaluate the machine’s
influence on the waste segregation habits of users. Additionally, the study would
not encompass long-term maintenance or the potential for scaling the project
problems that affect both people and the environment. The World Bank Group
(2022) and Arowana Impact Capital (2023) reported that waste generation
continues to rise, while the Philippines responds through the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act (DENR, 2025), which promoted recycling and proper
disposal. Using renewable energy like solar power could also support
7
sustainability. Khan and Arsalan (2016) and Hayat et al. (2019) stated that solar
energy provides clean electricity, while Hantula (2009) explained that it helped
Technology also played an important role in innovation and daily life. Solano
et al. (2017) discussed how modern vending machines now used telemetry and
cashless systems for better service. Likewise, Salac and Kim (2016) and Pahlavan
and Krishnamurthy (2021) noted that Wi-Fi had become essential for
vending systems, and Wi-Fi technology could create sustainable inventions that
8
CHAPTER II
METHODS
effective solution for urban waste management and digital access through the
RoBOTEch machine.
exchange mechanism, and the data collection methods used to evaluate the
RESEARCH DESIGN
waste. In this design, the researchers first measured the weight of collected plastic
bottles (in grams) before the implementation of RoBOTEch as the pretest. After
the installation and use of the device, the researchers measured the weight of
collected bottles as the posttest. The data was recorded weekly for 4 weeks, and
the mean weight before and after the implementation were compared to identify
any significant differences. The design was appropriate since it allowed the
9
RESEARCH LOCALE
Senior High School in Santa Fe, Romblon. This locale was ideal as it provided a
and monitored setting for the machine, which was essential for accurate data
collection throughout the 4 weeks testing period during the months of January to
February.
High School.
use the machine, a two-week baseline period in school days was established.
During this time, researchers used manual log sheets and scales to record the
weekly mean of unsegregated bottles that were collected within the school's
10
2. Intervention and Quantitative Logging (The "After" Phase)
The RoBOTEch machine was publicly activated for two weeks. The
measure the outcome, the total weekly mean of the bottles collected is measured,
RESEARCH PROCEDURE
1. Design Planning – The researchers created a design layout and sketch of the
RoBOTEch, showing where the bottle slot, charging ports, and Wi-Fi modem will
be placed.
3. Body Construction – The researchers then built the frame or body of the
vending machine using the chosen materials and assemble the parts according
11
5. Programming – The researchers uploaded the program to the Arduino to
make the system detect bottles, open the charging station, and provide Wi-Fi
properly detects bottles, activates, the Wi-Fi and allows gadget charging.
and fix wiring or programming issues until the machine works correctly.
finalized the machine by securing all parts and adding labels, decorations, and
RoBOTEch, demonstrate its function, and record the technical data to test its
RoBOTEch starts up when it is switched on, triggering the LCD and the LED
light indicating its operation. Once the LCD displays “Ilagay ang iyong plastic
bottles”, the user may now insert bottles which is detected by an IR Sensor that
triggers a buzzer in every detection. When all of the bottles are inserted, the user
may now press the red button and wait for the LCD to display the voucher code.
Note that voucher codes and connectivity duration depend on how many bottles
are inserted and detected. RoBOTEch works with three (3) categories; 1 bottle =
12
60 minutes of connectivity. Bottles inserted that does not fall under the three (3)
categories will fall under the category that it has previously reached (e.g. 5 bottles
fall under the 3 bottles category). After receiving the voucher code, the user must
scan the QR code which directs them to our website called “RoBOTEch Wi-Fi”
which asks for the voucher code that the user has received. When the voucher
code is entered, the user can now enjoy our Wi-Fi access and could also charge
DOCUMENTATION
13
14
CHAPTER III
RESULTS
based collection.
Mean
Before
(Control)
After RoBOTEch
227.62 122.70 175.16
(Experimental)
waste after the implementation of RoBOTEch. The overall mean weight decreased
15
Table 2. The Significant Difference Before and After the Implementation of
RoBOTEch
Level of
P-value Decision Description
Significance
Failed to accept the null
0.0199 0.05 Significant
hypothesis
Using the paired sample t-test, the computed p-value of 0.0199 was less
than the 0.05 level of significance, the result indicated that there was enough
statistical evidence to reject the null hypothesis. This meant that the difference
tested in the study was statistically significant. In other words, the observed result
indicated that there was a meaningful and significant difference between before
Based on the paired sample t-test analysis, the null hypothesis (H₀) stating
that there was no difference between the weight of bottles collected before and
level. With p-value of 0.0199 (p < 0.05), the alternative hypothesis (Hₐ) is accepted.
difference existed between the weight of bottles collected before and after the
16
CHAPTER IV
DISCUSSION
achieved its engineering goal of reducing plastic bottle waste through technology-
based incentives. The 41.94% reduction in mean bottle weight (from 417.66g to
175.16g) indicates that Wi-Fi access and charging station rewards effectively
motivated proper waste disposal behavior among students. These results strongly
by positive reinforcement are more likely to be repeated. The Wi-Fi access and
campus.
utilizing renewable solar energy for sustainable operation. During the two-week
access needs.
17
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The finding showed the result of the study in finding if there’s a difference
between the weight (in grams) of bottles collected before and after the
One-Group Pretest-Postest Design was the design that the researchers utilized to
This study aimed to answer the following questions: What were the weight
(in grams) of bottles being collected before and after the implementation of
RoBOTEch? What was the difference between the weight (in grams) of bottles
1. The average weight (in grams) for week 1 of collected bottles before the
implementation of RoBOTEch was 462.54, and for week 2 was 372.78, with an
overall mean of 417.66. The average weight (in grams) for week 1 of collected
18
bottles after the implementation of RoBOTEch was 227.62, and for week 2 was
2. The data showed that there was a significant difference between the weight (in
grams) of collected bottles before and after the implementation of RoBOTEch with
CONCLUSIONS
between the weight (in grams) of bottles collected before and after the
RECOMMENDATIONS
collection.
expenses.
plastic bottles.
19
REFERENCES
Cordova, R. S., & Ortega, R. R. (2023). Renewable Energy Sources and Energy
Production: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Last Five Years. MDPI. 159(3).
pp. 1-22. Retrieved from
[Link]
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2025). Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003). Retrieved from
[Link]
Dormido, R., & González, P. (2017). Smart vending machines: Telemetry and
connectivity for the future of retail. IEEE Transactions on Industrial
Informatics, 13(6), 2936–2945. [Link]/10.1109/TII.2017.2694812
Khan, J., & Arsalan, M. H. (2016). Solar power technologies for sustainable
energy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 414–425.
[Link]/10.1016/[Link].2015.10.135
Moore, C. (2025). Plastic Pollution. Britannica. Retrieved from
[Link]
oceans-and-on-land
Pahlavan, K., & Krishnamurthy, P. (2021). Evolution of Wi-Fi for indoor
geolocation and connectivity. IEEE Communications Magazine, 59(7), 34–
40. [Link]/10.1109/MCOM.001.2000151
PH push for renewable energy yields ground-breaking installations. (2025).
Department of Energy. Retrieved from [Link]
releases/ph-push-renewable-energy-yields-record-breaking-installations
Tscuchimoto, I., & Kajikawa, Y. (2022). Recycling of Plastic Waste: A
Systematic Review Using Bibliometric Analysis. MDPI. 14(24).
[Link]/10.3390/su142416340
Turning off the tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a
circular economy .(2023). United Nations Environmental Programme.
Retrieved from [Link]
pollution-createcircular-economy
World Bank Group. (2022). What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid
waste management to 2050. World Bank Publications.
[Link]
20
V.
LOGBOOK
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VI.
EVALUATION
FORM
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