element14, an Avnet community, has introduced a new Smart Sustainability Design Challenge, encouraging engineers, makers, and technology enthusiasts to develop creative solutions for recycling, waste reduction, and environmental protection.
Participants are invited to build smart recycling or waste-management projects using electronics, sensors, automation, and intelligent control technologies. Ideas could include smart-city waste systems, computer-vision recycling sorters, or automated household waste-management solutions designed to address practical environmental challenges.
Five participants will be selected to receive a complimentary component kit for developing their projects. Each challenger will document their progress through blog posts and showcase the completed project on the element14 Community. Submissions will be judged on innovation, technical implementation, and creative use of the provided components.
“Technology can play a significant role in helping communities reduce waste and improve recycling processes,” said Andreea Teodorescu, Global Director of Product Marketing and element14 Community. “This challenge gives our members the opportunity to explore practical sustainability solutions while applying their engineering skills to challenges that impact everyday life and the environment.”
The first-place winner will receive a TUF Gaming Laptop and Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis. The second-place winner will receive a MacBook Neo and a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis, while the third-place winner will receive a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis. All participants who successfully complete the challenge will also receive an RC garbage truck and a Thunderbolt 3 Mini Docking Station.
Applications are open now through 18 October. Selected participants will have until 13 December to complete their projects and submit their entries. Winners will be announced in January 2027.
