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Assignment - Finding innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste
Submitted by – Jasbeer Singh
Harsh Kumar
Harshpreet Kaur
Subject – Creative problems solution
Submitted to - Yemisi Lyilade
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Part A: Divergent Thinking
Five Innovative Ideas to Reduce Plastic Waste:
1. Places for people to refill their reusable drinks and water bottles
Put up refill stations for detergents, shampoos and hand soaps at supermarkets and
community centers.
Residents would be more likely to carry their own containers which would greatly reduce
single-use plastics.
Local enterprises may join in by providing discounts to people who use the stations a lot.
2. Plastic-Free School Competition
Set up a four-week program in local educational institutions to challenge both students
and staff to give up plastic.
Schedule workshops where participants can create their own reusable bags, lunch lessons
bringing zero-waste ideas and contests to encourage more involvement.
Not only do students learn this way, but it also makes families more mindful about how
they live.
3. Plastics Exchange Project
Introduce a system for people in the community to give their plastic waste for discounts
at local shops or on groceries.
People can recycle more by setting up collection booths every week in different
neighborhoods, offering incentives to those who recycle.
Plastic collected can be organized and given to recycling centers or upcycling projects
near you.
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4. Bioplastic Startup Accelerator
Launch a local group to support entrepreneurs who invent new biodegradable types of
plastic packaging.
Give new businesses their first financial support, advice and space in a lab to encourage
creativity in sustainable materials.
As a result, more green businesses would be developed and our dependence on plastic
would be slowly decreased.
5. The “Adopt-a-Spot” Cleanup Tech App
The app would allow people to pick certain outdoor places and promise to look after and
keep them clean.
The app might note the plastic waste picked up and provide rewards, lists or
acknowledgment in the community.
It would encourage companies to be responsible and offer eco-support to users who are
used to working with technology.
Part B: Convergent Thinking
Top 3 Selected Ideas:
1. Community Refill Stations
2. Plastic-Free School Challenge
3. Plastic Exchange Program
1. Refill stations in the community
This approach is highly feasible because once things are set up, connections with local
companies can support the delivery process.
It is highly effective – It aims to cut plastic use at the start and influences long-term
habits.
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Scope: Wide – Can benefit a lot of people and be adopted as a typical routine for users.
Because it emphasizes sustainability, can grow and greatly decreases the need for plastic
packaging, it was ranked on top.
2. There is a Plastic-Free School Challenge.
Moderate feasibility – Because schools offer a clear structure, they can be good places to
roll out these campaigns.
Medium effectiveness – enables young people to create better habits and help others in
their home.
Long-term – Children learn about nature and may keep up eco-friendly habits in later life.
Its ranking in this group is second mainly because it is the beginning point for lasting
changes in communities and culture and influences more people.
3. Exchanging Program
Moderate feasibility – It needs some arrangements and financing to work, but working
with local companies could make things easier.
Medium effectiveness – Provides rewards as soon as people cut down their plastics.
Effect: 5 years – Relies on continuous incentives and could drop if those incentives are
no longer offered.
Ranked third because it is very encouraging, except that its sustainability depends on it
being included in a total waste management approach.
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Brief Reflection
I found that using the HITS method proved both useful and interesting for our team addressing
issues of plastic waste. Thanks to the process, we struggled to think of new and creative solutions
in the first stage, not considering if they were practical right away. Working mainly on quantity
first allowed us to discover unique ways of solving the problem—from sometimes choosing
apps, to working at the community level or advocating for key policies.
The convergent part of the HITS approach helped us review our ideas with care. Analyzing each
proposal based on feasibility, effectiveness and impact helped us decide on the best three. As a
result, we were able to discuss projects and picture the way they could be successful in the
future, not just react to first impressions.
It was difficult sometimes to weigh whether a creative or a realistic path better fit what the group
wanted to express. Still, using HITS made the decision-making process smoother and more
based on rationality rather than subjective judgments. The approach also meant everyone was
heard and that no thought was rejected too quickly.
All in all, the HITS approach brought more orderliness, involved everyone and improved our
ability to work as a group. It made us understand why having a structured way to be creative is
important and what to believe in when applying our solutions. Having a plan such as Smaller
Footprint Act inspires us to believe real change can be made against plastic waste locally.
