The competition, held in 2022 for the first time, required participants to use industrial engineering skills and tools to solve the real-life problem of plastic bottle caps and lids that pollute our beaches and oceans.
The competition was open to all tertiary students in industrial engineering who are members of the SAIIE. Nine entries were submitted, and the top three teams presented their solution to a panel of SAIIE members.
A win-win situation for people and the environment
Njabulo and Nosisa, the winning team, came up with the idea of a vending machine that can be placed on or near beaches to encourage the public to do their part in conserving and protecting our beaches.
People should pick up bottle caps and lids from the beach, clean them and then insert them into the vending machine. After the caps are weighed, a certain price – equivalent to the contribution made – will then be allocated according to the density and quantity of the bottle caps.
The price can be something like a voucher or coupon (probably from a participating company) or a beverage from the machine. The money earned from selling the bottle caps will be used to restock the vending machine.
Putting theory into practice
Nosisa says the competition gave her the opportunity to put some of the skills she has gained so far into practice.
“Growing up on the coast and having taken part in numerous beach clean-ups, I knew our answer needed to be practical and sustainable for future generations.
“It would be a fantastic opportunity for us to actually build our vending machine and see it used throughout the coastlines and perhaps even inland,” she adds.
As the winning team, Njabulo and Nosisa had the opportunity to attend and present their solution at the SAIIE annual conference that took place from 3 to 5 October in Durban.
“Our idea was received very well and we are currently awaiting assistance and funding to implement our solution,” says Njabulo.
