Essex student develops council waste and recycling app for households

A new waste and recycling app has been launched by Basildon Council thanks to a collaboration with a University of Essex final year computer science student

The Our Streets Basildon app is now available on android and IOS devices and allows residents to engage with all the ways they can dispose of waste and recycling across their borough. Users can also request services, get notifications for collection day changes and report dumped rubbish.

It was created by School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE) graduate Bradley Rex during his final year Capstone Project at Essex.

Chairman of the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee Councillor David Harrison said: “This is a great collaboration between bright young minds and our council and is a perfect example of the many ways education and innovation can help Basildon grow.”

David Everiss, University of Essex Work-Based Learning Manager, said: “We encourage our students to work on real world issues throughout their studies and it’s great to collaborate with local organisations to create projects that will actually help members of the community.”

Dr Vishuu Mohan, Module Director of Final Year Capstone Project, added: “This work started as part of a Capstone project which allows students an opportunity to be independent and creative, developing their own projects often in collaboration with local businesses.

“This is an excellent demonstration of the core motto of CSEE which is ‘making something wonderful’ and also useful for humanity.”