Design Brief: Physical Strain of Waste Disposal at University of Toronto

Opportunity:
This design brief hopes to lower the effort required by the janitorial staff when collecting trash in
the Bahen Centre, which will improve the efficiency and safety of waste collection. Janitorial
staff at the University of Toronto noted that cleaning up more than 60 bins a day is exhausting
and results in muscle fatigue and strain, showing how the process of garbage collection is
inefficient and strenuous.

Figure 1 - Bahen Centre Waste Receptacle

This opportunity chooses to focus on the strenuousness of the janitorial process because of
repetitive strain injury. According to Canadian Union of Public Employees National Health and
Safety Branch, repetitive strain injury is caused by repetitive and forceful exertion of muscle
movement which are circumstances recreated by the current janitorial process.

Although the main focus of this design brief is reducing waste volume to augment safety, the
brief will also touch upon collateral benefits as seen in the objectives list.

Stakeholders:
*Stakeholders are ordered in importance to the design solution.
1. University of Toronto Janitorial Staff
Caretakers directly responsible for the cleanliness of the particular public space
2. University of Toronto Students
Primary users of the particular public space, primary producers of waste
3. Bahen Centre
Particular space of which sanitation standards must be met for public use
4. Bahen Centre Staff
Caretakers responsible for the usability of the particular public space
5. City of Toronto Requirement for Garbage, Recycling, and Organics Collection
Services for New Developments and Redevelopments
Standards must be followed to ensure safety and respect authority
6. Product Designers
Engineers responsible for the success of the solution
 7. ESC101 Praxis Studio Teaching Team
Mentors necessary to improve solutions and provide critiques
8. University of Toronto Technicians
Workers responsible for the installation of the design solution
9. Garbage Receptacle Manufacturers
Industry stakeholders involved in the production of the design solution
10. University of Toronto Planning and Budget Office
University of Toronto is responsible for providing the funds for the
implementation of the design.
High-Level Metrics Criteria Constraints
Objectives

Reduce Volume Volume (3 ) More Volume Volume of waste in garbage bag must
of Space Available not exceed 0.8 3 .
Occupied per This value was determined by contacting the University
of Toronto Waste Reduction and Recycling Infoline and
Bag
discussing the matter with them. (University of Toronto
Waste Reduction and Recycling Infoline, personal
communication, October 30, 2016).

Reduce Mass Mass () Less Mass The mass of each garbage must not
Held within a Held exceed 72.6 .
Garbage Bag According to the United States Department of Labor, a
lifting load greater than 72.6 is linked to increased risk
of injury.

Optimize Time Time () Less Time The amount of time spent collecting a
Spent for Spent waste from a single receptacle must not
Janitorial Staff to exceed 2 .
Collect Waste (University of Toronto Waste Reduction and Recycling
Infoline, personal communication, October 30, 2016).
from 1
Receptacle

Reduce Travel Less Distance Janitorial staff must not transfer the
Strenuous Work Distance of Travelled by waste from the receptacle for more than
for Janitorial Staff Garbage () Garbage when 0.05
being (University of Toronto Waste Reduction and Recycling
Infoline, personal communication, October 30, 2016).
Removed

Minimize Cost Canadian Lower Costs Cost must not exceed CAD $2,000.00
Dollar This value was determined by finding the most
expensive, best selling quad stream waste receptacle
( $)
from Waste Wise Products Inc., which cost CAD
$1,951.00
Detailed Metrics Criteria Constraints
Objectives

Minimize Time () Lower No on-site assembly. Design should be

Installation Time Installation ready for use immediately after
Time manufacturing.

Minimize Ambient Low Noise / Setup noise should not exceed ambient
Disruption during Noise Level Smaller noise level of 60dB. Installation area
Installation (), Construction should not block off immediate corridor.
Installation Area _________________
Area (2 ) 60dB is the ambient noise of an office or a restaurant. As
installation will produce noise, it must not produce noise
that is loud enough for irritation.

Minimize Percent Greater Percentage of reusable/recyclable

Environmental Recyclable amount of materials in product not be less than
Impact Mass of degradable 80%.
Designed and _________________
Product (%) reclaimable (University of Toronto Waste Reduction and Recycling
Infoline, personal communication, October 30, 2016).
material in
design
Reference Designs:
Heavy Duty Garbage Bags:
Heavy duty bags designed for containing waste during disposal.

Figure 2 - Heavy Duty Garbage Bags

Pros - Made of polyethylene, which is a high tensile and recyclable plastic.

- Produces minimal installation noise.
- Stores up to 0.79 3 of volume (value determined from analyzing Hefty Trash
Compactor Bags).
Cons - Designed for residential use.
- Bags are often smaller than 1.2 which is the height of Bahens waste receptacles.
- Overstuffing the bag may result in breakage and break a constraint.

Self-Powered Trash Compactor:

Trash receptacle for home use that allows for safe and sanitary compaction of
waste.

Figure 3 - Self-Powered Trash Compactor

Pros - Compression mechanism reduces volume of waste.

Cons - Compression doesnt reduce mass.
- Often small and requires human power to use the compression mechanism.
 Waste Receptacles with Automatic Closed Lids:
Waste receptacles with automatically closing lids which prevents overstuffing.

Figure 4 - Waste Receptacle with Automatically Closing Lid

Pros - Reduces waste volume which then reduces weight of each garbage bag.
- Reduces time to collect waste as receptacle automatically closes the bag.
Cons - Poses safety risk with possibility of lid closing on a limb.

Resources:
Amazon. (2016) Hefty Trash Compactor Bags 18 GAL - 5 CT. Retrieved from
https://www.amazon.com/Hefty-Trash-Compactor-Bags-GAL/dp/B002BXRGQA
City of Toronto. (2012). City of Toronto Requirement for Garbage, Recycling, and Organics
Collection Services for New Developments and Redevelopments. Retrieved from
https://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/city_planning/community_planning/files/pdf/requirement
s_all.pdf
Garbage Can Design. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.coroflot.com/qhfkao22/public-design
IAC Acoustic, A Division of Sound Seal Incorporated. (2016). Comparative Examples of Noise
Levels. Retrieved from http://www.industrialnoisecontrol.com/comparative-noise-
examples.htm
The United States Department of Labour, (2004). Standard Interpretations: Retrieved from :
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_
id=24876
Uncommon Goods. (2016). Smush Can. Retrieved from
http://www.thegreenhead.com/2010/01/smush-can-self-powered-trash-compactor.php
Waste Wise Products Incorporated. (2016). Best Selling Quad Stream Recycling Stations.
[Online store]. Retrieved from http://www.wastewiseproductsinc.com/buy-now/quad-
stream/