Public waste bins are often hard to locate, leading to littering in urban areas, tourist spots, and event venues. This gap in urban infrastructure creates unnecessary pollution, higher municipal costs, and frustration for people trying to dispose of waste responsibly. A simple but underdeveloped solution would be a digital tool that makes bin locations visible and accessible in real-time.

How It Would Work

One approach could involve creating a map-based app where users see nearby public bins alongside verification tools. For example:

• Base layers using municipal open data on bin placements
• Crowdsourced updates from users adding new bins or flagging issues like overflows
• Optional gamification elements (like contributing points) to encourage participation

Early versions might focus on web or simple mobile interfaces using existing map APIs, with potential expansion to integrate with navigation apps or city databases. Local governments could partner by sharing their bin location datasets, while businesses near high-traffic bins might sponsor visibility.

Why It Fills a Gap

While some cities publish static bin maps and apps like Google Maps show generic "public bin" searches, no widely adopted tool combines:

• Real-time updates on bin availability
• Simple reporting for maintenance needs
• Incentives for community participation

Projects like toilet-finding apps (Flush) prove the model works for similar infrastructure—but bins remain overlooked despite higher daily demand.

Getting Started

A minimal version could test core assumptions by:

1. Building a prototype with open-source maps and a few verified city datasets
2. Partnering with a single municipality or university to pilot user engagement
3. Tracking whether crowdsourced updates meaningfully improve accuracy

If adoption grows, revenue could come from municipal licenses, local business sponsorships, or expanding to related amenities like recycling stations.

Unlike broader mapping tools, this focused approach could turn an everyday frustration into a small but meaningful civic improvement—while giving cities better data to optimize waste infrastructure.