Recurite

Recurite is my master's thesis project and our solution to the structural mis-sorting of waste in hospital intensive care units, where up to 46% of waste is currently thrown into the wrong stream. It transforms a modular care cart into the first physical sorting point built directly into the care workflow itself.

Recurite integrates dedicated compartments for packaging waste, cardboard, and non-hazardous medical waste exactly where they are generated during care. Each stream is accessed through a simple push-to-open mechanism with clear color coding, so correct sorting becomes automatic rather than an extra task for already overburdened nurses.

Hospitals are major contributors to global emissions, with intensive care units among the most waste-intensive spaces. Existing solutions rely on training rather than design. Recurite closes that gap by embedding waste sorting directly into the cart itself.

During care, packaging waste and cardboard are dropped into the top compartments through a push-to-open lid, while non-hazardous medical waste goes into a knee-operated drawer at the side, keeping hands free throughout. A built-in needle container opens at the press of a button and seals shut again afterward. Every action stays part of the same motion as the care itself, with no extra steps and no extra thinking required.