EcoSort: An Edge-Deployable Hybrid AI-IoT Framework with Decision Fusion for Automated Waste Sorting and Real-Time Bin Monitoring

Abstract

Abstract—Effective waste segregation remains a major challenge in urban environments because manual sorting, isolated sensor systems, and stand-alone vision models often fail to deliver the accuracy, integration, and operational visibility required for reliable deployment. This paper presents EcoSort, an edgedeployable hybrid AI-IoT framework that combines imagebased waste classification, sensor-assisted validation, decision fusion, automated sorting, and real-time bin monitoring within a single architecture. A MobileNetV3-based classifier performs lightweight visual recognition, while complementary sensor readings provide physical cues for validating ambiguous cases. The independent outputs are merged using a priority-based decision fusion layer that produces the final class label used to trigger the sorting actuator. The system is implemented as a lowcost prototype using embedded controllers, ultrasonic sensing, servo-based actuation, and a web dashboard for live fill-level visualization. In addition to end-to-end sorting, the monitoring layer generates threshold-based collection alerts when bin capacity approaches critical levels, improving operational responsiveness. The study contributes a unified design that addresses the fragmentation seen in prior waste management solutions, where classification, segregation, and monitoring are typically treated as separate subsystems. Prototype-level evaluation and implementation observations indicate that the hybrid pipeline improves classification dependability and sorting robustness compared with single-modality operation while remaining feasible for resource-constrained edge deployment. The proposed framework therefore offers a practical foundation for scalable, data-driven, and sustainable waste management in institutions and smart-city settings.