Date of Award

5-5-2025

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Bahram Nassersharif

Abstract

The Zero Waste Soap Vending Machine project aimed to address the growing issue of single-use plastic waste by designing an innovative, sustainable soap dispensing system. This project’s primary objective was to create a vending machine capable of dispensing three forms of soap – liquid, powdered, and bar – while reducing plastic waste by enabling customers to refill their own containers. With a focus on accessibility and environmental sustainability, the design process aimed to produce a modular, user-friendly solution. Together with URI’s Plastics CoLab, the team collaborated with both domestic and foreign partners, such as Dr. Vinka Craver and Everyday Eco Warriors. Early testing stages revealed a number of issues, including uneven portion control, clogging in the powder soap dispenser, and inaccurate dispensing. Through better component integration and iterative design modifications, these problems were methodically resolved.

The creation of a reliable dispensing mechanism for each of the three varieties of soap is one of the major achievements. The powdered soap dispenser was fitted with a vibration mechanism to avoid clogging, the liquid soap dispenser was improved for steady flow, and the bar soap dispenser was calibrated for full dispensing. Additionally, wiring problems were fixed and debounce delays were included for precise button identification, resulting in a more responsive user interface. Testing, conducted between February 12-14, 2025, focused on prototype achieved consistent performance, with a significant reduction in dispensing delays and improved portion control. Post-dispense drippage was minimized by incorporating a drip catcher and anti-drip valve, resulting in a more efficient and environmentally friendly product.

The project successfully met its objectives by developing a fully functional, eco-friendly soap vending machine that is ready for future deployment. The next steps involve further system optimization, the introduction of a point-of-sale system, and the expansion of its use to other locations, helping to combat plastic waste on a larger scale.

Comments

Team Name: Team 9

Company Sponsor: Everyday Eco Warriors

Sponsor Representative: Vinka Craver

Document Reference: URI-MCE-402-009-2025

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