How to Make a Waste Detection Using ESP32-CAM with CircuitDigest Cloud

The waste detection system centers around the ESP32-CAM module, a compact microcontroller equipped with an integrated camera and Wi-Fi capabilities. When a user places waste near the system and presses the push button, the microcontroller is signaled to capture a visual image of the item using the onboard camera. Once the image is captured, the ESP32-CAM connects to the internet via its Wi-Fi interface and transmits the image data to the CircuitDigest Cloud API for processing. The cloud service evaluates the visual features of the waste and returns a classification result indicating whether the item is biodegradable or non-biodegradable. Based on this classification response, the ESP32-CAM drives the output indicators on the breadboard. If the item is biodegradable, the green LED illuminates; if it is non-biodegradable, the red LED lights up instead. Current-limiting 220-ohm resistors are wired in series with both LEDs to protect them from excessive current drawn from the microcontroller's digital pins. If using a standard ESP32-CAM model lacking an onboard USB port, a USB-to-Serial FTDI adapter is required to flash code from the Arduino IDE during the initial setup.