ARDUINO PROJECTS

Make Arduino Garbage Sorting Machine with Codes and Circuit Diagram

Jeevan 3 hours ago

0 3 minutes read

Hello readers in this article i will show you how to Make Arduino Garbage Sorting Machine in a simple way.

I will be giving you all the circuit diagram explanation and arduino program to make this project.

To begin with let me quickly tell you about this project.

This arduino powered metal and non metal segregator device helps you to seperate metalic and non metallic objects.

Micro servo is used upon which there will be a plate that will seperate metal and non metal objects.

Capacitive proximity sensor is used to detect metal objects whereas the IR sensor is used to detect the objects.

I will explain the working logic, at first the object is checked and secondly if metal is detected post detection it falls under metal category.

If the metal object is not sense by capacitive proximity sensor then the object falls under non metallic category.

Materials to build Arduino Garbage Sorter

Arduino Uno – The main microcontroller board

Servo Motor (SG90) – For actuating the sorting mechanism

Capacitive Proximity Sensor – To detect metallic objects

IR Sensor – To detect the presence of any object

Jumper Wires – For connections

Cardboard/Acrylic Sheet – For the base platform

Small containers/bins – To collect sorted objects

Wooden/plastic plate – Attached to servo for directing objects

Power Supply – 9V adapter or USB power

Circuit for Arduino Metal and non metal garbage segregation

Arduino Uno Pin Connections with the respective modules
IR Sensor Module

VCC to 5V pin and GND goes with GND pin

OUT to Digital Pin 2

Capacitive Proximity Sensor

Brown wire is VCC and is connect to 5V pin

Blue wire or GND to GND pin

Black wire goes with Digital Pin 3

Servo Motor Connections

Red wire to 5V pin and Brown wire or GND to GND pin

Orange wire (Signal) to Digital Pin 9

Code to Make Arduino Garbage Sorting Machine

After you build the circuit, Simply connect your uno board to computer and open Arduino IDE

Use the program below, select proper board type and port and click on the upload.

#include <Servo.h>

Servo sorterServo;

const int irPin = 2;        // IR sensor
const int metalPin = 3;     // Metal sensor

int currentPos = 90;        // Neutral position

void setup() {
  sorterServo.attach(9);    // Servo signal pin
  pinMode(irPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(metalPin, INPUT);
  sorterServo.write(currentPos);
}

void loop() {
  int irState = digitalRead(irPin);
  int metalState = digitalRead(metalPin);
  
  if (irState == LOW) { // Object detected
    delay(1000); // 1-second delay before servo response
    
    if (metalState == LOW) {
      // Coin detected → Move left to 135°
      sorterServo.write(135);
      delay(2000);
    } else {
      // No metal → Move right to 45°
      sorterServo.write(45);
      delay(2000);
    }
    
    // Return to neutral position
    sorterServo.write(90);
    delay(1000);
  }
}

After the code is done uploading, disconnect the cable and test the circuit for working.

You can test by placing the object infront of IR sensor first wait for few seconds and now the servo should move to certain angle.

Make a note of angle and now place a metal object in front of capacitive proximity sensor and alongside ir sensor now servo moves in opposite angle.

This confirms the working of circuit and now assemble all the components on cardboard.