element14 My Project Is Trash design challenge 2026
element14 gives five makers a free kit to build a smart recycling or waste project, with prizes up to about $1,305. Apply by 18 October 2026.
My Project Is Trash is an element14 Community design challenge. Entrants build a smart recycling or refuse themed electronics project. Examples on the page include a self driving trash can, a refuse sorting bot, refuse truck tracking, a recycling schedule reminder and a trash to energy converter.
Five selected Challengers receive a free kit of parts from Analog Devices, CamdenBoss, Hammond and NI. The kit includes an accelerometer board, an IR light angle sensor board, an IP68 enclosure, LED indicators, terminal blocks and a microswitch. It has no microcontroller, so each builder picks their own platform.
The first place prize is a gaming laptop and a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe expansion chassis, with an approximate value of $1,305 USD. The second place prize has an approximate value of $1,187 USD and the third place prize about $331 USD. Everyone who finishes the required posts gets a finisher prize worth about $76 USD.
To apply, register or log in on element14 Community and send an application that explains your project and how you will use the kit. People who are not selected can buy the kit and still enter, and all participants can win the winner and finisher prizes.
Applications close at 23:59 UK time on 18 October 2026. Challengers are announced on 31 October. The build period runs from 6 November to 13 December 2026, and projects are due at 23:59 UK time on 13 December. Winners are announced on 8 January 2027.
To qualify, Challengers post at least five forum updates and one project blog before the closing date. Judges favour innovative projects, technical merit and imaginative use of the kit, and posts with photos, video and code samples.