There’s helpful information for adults, too, like where to dispose of household hazardous waste or find the nearest compost site. Users can also take a quick photo of an item and get instant advice about whether it should be recycled or headed for the trash bin.
The app is the product of work completed by Hamilton students Angel Apollos ’26, Ricaldo Lewis ’26, and Mia Wrisley ’26 for their senior project in computer science. The trio partnered with Eileen Brinck, OHSWA recycling coordinator, and Alma Lowry, lecturer in environmental studies, to create the app modeled after the “Am I Recyclable” feature on OHSWA’s website.
“The search function on our website is fine, but because you need internet access to use it, it isn’t always handy. We wanted to improve on that idea,” Brinck said.
After a chance encounter with Lowry over the summer at the Clinton farmers market, Brinck learned about the possibility of collaborating with Hamilton students. She submitted her idea, and the project was selected by Apollos, Lewis, and Wrisley, who met weekly with Brinck via Zoom throughout the fall to develop prototypes before the app launched in December.
For more than a decade, the senior seminar in computer science has run like a practicum with students applying what they’ve learned in software engineering analysis, design, coding, testing, maintenance, and documentation to solve real problems. Initially the students partnered with faculty members and campus offices, but in 2023, projects expanded to support area nonprofits as well.
A few examples include creating software for optimizing pre-health course planning; developing a stat tracker for the men’s hockey team; working with the Oneida County History Center on an app that converts image files into PDF format; and assisting the Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps determine hotspots of 911 calls so they can better understand where to devote resources.
As far as the work with OHSWA goes, Brinck said, “Feedback has been really positive. People really like that when you load [the app], it reads your location so you know what resources are available right here in our area.” She plans to continue working with Hamilton students in the future on updates.
To explore the app, search AmIRecyclable-OHSWA in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. (By the way, a potato chip bag is made of mixed materials that are hard to recycle; however, a milk carton can be recycled if it’s clean and empty.)
Posted February 17, 2026
