WasteNotNYC

WasteNotNYC is an interactive data experience that invites visitors to rethink the journey of their food waste through play and data storytelling. At a touchscreen kiosk, participants “build a meal” from a menu of options and are prompted to guess how much of it can be composted. The system then reveals the correct answer, compares it with how others have guessed, and calculates the long-term impact if that meal were composted daily for a year. To connect the personal to the collective, the display then zooms out to a citywide map, showing composting participation rates across neighborhoods and highlighting local resources for compost drop-off or curbside programs. By combining behavioral quizzes, personalized feedback, and civic data visualization, WasteNotNYC transforms an abstract sustainability issue into something concrete, measurable, and participatory. WasteNotNYC exemplifies how public interest technology can make invisible systems visible, spark conversations about equity in environmental access, and empower New Yorkers to take small daily actions that add up to systemic change!

WasteNotNYC is a project by Annie Chen.

About Annie Chen:

Annie Chen is a Data Scientist based in New York City. She has spent the past several years supporting public safety research for local government, designing studies and applying statistical and machine learning models to make sense of complex data. She is currently a Climatebase Fellow, where she is exploring opportunities to contribute to climate technology and engage in environmental sustainability efforts. Annie brings expertise in data storytelling, civic tech, and community-focused research, and is excited to create an interactive experience that helps people connect everyday choices to collective climate action.