The 3SR Green Station is a pioneering project developed by scientists at Vietnam National University (VNU), designed as a comprehensive system that integrates three components: smart retail, smart refill, and smart recycling.
The project is currently in its initial phase, piloting an automated waste collection station that sorts waste, calculates its value, and rewards users with points based on the weight of their recyclable materials. This initiative is aligned with Vietnam’s upcoming waste classification regulations, which will require household waste sorting at the source starting January 1, 2025.
The Green Station acts as a waste-sorting management system at the source, supporting automatic collection and weighing. Initially conceptualized three years ago, the model is now being piloted at VNU, local schools, and hospitals in Sóc Sơn District with the aim of educating students about the importance of waste sorting and collection directly at the source.
Dr. Bùi Thanh Hương from VNU emphasized the crucial role of technology in the Green Station model, particularly in environmental education: “The development of a Green Station system with automatic waste collection and weight-based payment is highly significant. This product integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology with environmental education, helping maintain and establish the habit of sorting waste at the source — a task that is both simple and challenging in Vietnam’s current context.”
The Green Station empowers residents to sort waste, recover value from it, and minimize environmental discharge. Dr. Hương highlighted a key innovation of the model — delivering immediate benefits to users:
“Residents only need a smartphone or a resident card issued by the system. Before weighing their waste, they simply tap their card on the station’s reader to register their ID. Of course, the waste must be sorted into six categories beforehand — such as cardboard, soft paper, hard plastic, soft plastic, textiles, electronic waste, or used batteries.
Once the card is scanned and the waste is weighed, the system records the weight and converts it into reward points or monetary value. Users can then immediately use their card to purchase goods from the integrated vending system — without waiting for any additional processing.”
It is hoped that once the Green Station model is successfully piloted in communities, it will help establish and normalize the habit of waste sorting at the source. This will enable citizens to comply more effectively with upcoming regulations on household waste classification and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
Source: vovgiaothong