Park Clean: Trash Collection and Management in Public Parks

Every piece of trash that is taken away to be recycled or deposited in a landfill means there is one less dangerous item for animals to swallow and helps restore these creatures’ habitats. Cleanups happen worldwide in rivers, parks, oceans and anywhere where there is usual human traffic. There are many risks in the process, like navigating the unpredictable landscapes and the potentially hazardous pieces of litter each person interacts with. The process is often limited in resources as it is often organised by nonprofits, meaning little to no budget. Hundreds of events have been registered, and more are coming; however, risks to volunteers remain. Cleanup volunteers are individuals or groups who dedicate their time and energy to cleaning up trash in their communities or natural areas. Litter negatively impacts the environment, including polluting water sources, harming wildlife, and degrading the beauty of an area. Thus these users are positively affecting their environment on a large scale as part of their ecosystem. The problem definition of this thesis specifically addresses the physical needs of volunteers in the harsh conditions of nature when partaking in trash removal efforts. The product family, including Ringo, Mimo and Concho, was developed to solve small-scale ergonomic interactions of individuals, and the large-scale problems of waste management in parks using a system approach. Volunteers need protection from hazardous materials, proper ergonomic work interaction, and assistance to help traverse challenging landscapes, which can fulfil a full-bodied human interaction design (FBHID) and enhance human lifestyle. Sustainability and social responsibility are at the core of this topic, as the United Nations (UN) recognizes litter cleanups as an efficient way of waste reduction in natural and public spaces (UN Environment Programme, 2018). Keywords: Trash Collection, Public Parks, Waste Management