Documentation

Welcome to the Unified E-Waste Management Platform (UEMP) documentation. This page provides an overview of the platform's features and the roles of Manufacturers, Recyclers, Consumers, and Government organizations.

Overview

UEMP is a platform designed to streamline e-waste management by connecting manufacturers, recyclers, consumers, and government organizations. It promotes responsible recycling, lifecycle tracking of electronic products, and sustainability.

The platform uses QR codes to track products from manufacturing to recycling, ensuring transparency and accountability at every stage.

Core Technologies Used

Web & Desktop App (Electron)

The Unified E-Waste Management Platform (UEMP) is available as both a modern web application and a downloadable desktop app. The desktop version is packaged using, allowing users to install and use the platform on Windows without needing a browser.

Web App: Access the platform from any device with a browser at-https://unified-e-waste-management-platform.vercel.app.
Desktop App: Download and install the Electron-powered app on Windows for a easier user experience.
Unified Experience: Both versions offer the same features and user interface, ensuring a seamless experience whether you use the web or desktop app.

The Electron app wraps the web platform using a lightweight browser window, as shown in the code below:

Login Page

The Login Page allows users to authenticate themselves and access their accounts securely. It supports both logging in with existing credentials (email/password) and signing up for new accounts, while also providing demo login options for testing.

Key Functionalities

Email Authentication: Users can log in with their registered email and password.
Sign Up: New users can create an account by providing their details, including name, email, password, and user type.
Password Reset: Users who forget their password can request a reset link sent to their registered email address.
Demo Logins: Users can log in as demo users (e.g., Manufacturer, Recycler, Consumer, Government) with predefined credentials to test the platform.

Technical Details

The Login Page is built to provide a seamless and secure user experience. Below are the technical aspects of the page:

User Role Management: User roles (Manufacturer, Recycler, Consumer, Government) are captured during sign-up, and users are redirected to different dashboards based on their role.
Demo Login: Predefined demo credentials are used to simulate logins for testing various user types.

Try Demo Login

The demo login buttons allow users to quickly test the login process for different user roles. Each button triggers a different login scenario, simulating how users from different roles would log in.

QR based Product Registration Demo

The Consumer Register Page allows users to register a product by scanning a QR code. Depending on their authentication state, users are redirected to their consumer dashboard or prompted to log in. This ensures a seamless flow between QR scanning, login, and product registration.

Key Functionalities

QR Code Handling: Detects the qr query parameter from the URL to identify the product being registered.
Each productId is unique and the serial numbers are the instances of the productId as illustrated below:

Each qr code contains the:

Manufacturer UID
Product ID
Serial Number

of that product as displayed below.

https://unified-e-waste-management-platform.vercel.app/consumer/register?qr=/register?qr=$[user.uid]|$[productId]|$[productDetails.serialNumber]

Authentication-Aware Redirection: Redirects the user based on their login status:
- Authenticated: Redirects to /consumer/[uid]?qr=[value].
- Unauthenticated: Redirects to /login?qr=[value].
- Missing QR: Redirects to /consumer.

Demo Flow

The video below illustrates the consumer QR-based registration flow, showing how users are redirected based on authentication status.

Technical Details

This page uses Firebase Authentication and Next.js navigation utilities to ensure secure and intelligent redirect behavior:

Firebase Auth Listener: onAuthStateChanged() is used to observe the user's authentication state in real-time.
Next.js Routing: useRouter() and router.replace() handle dynamic redirection without page reloads.
Query Extraction: useSearchParams() is used to read the qr code from the URL.

Manufacturer

Manufacturers play a key role in the platform by generating QR codes for their products and tracking their lifecycle.

Technical Details

QR Code Generation: Manufacturers can generate unique QR codes for their products, embedding details like product type, recyclability, and material composition.
Lifecycle Tracking: Track the product's journey from manufacturing to recycling, including resale and ownership transfers.
Bulk Product Uploads: Manufacturers can upload products for QR generation in bulk through a ".csv" file.
Certification from government: Manufacturers can apply for certifiation from government organizations directly from the dashboard.
Admin Dashboard: Improved admin dashboard for role based access control to employees.

Employee Invitations: Manufacturers can invite users to join their organization as employees via email. Invitation emails are sent using the SendGrid API. Employees receive a unique link to register and join the manufacturer's dashboard.

Recycler

Recyclers are responsible for processing e-waste and ensuring proper recycling practices.

Technical Details

Facility Registration: Recyclers can register their facilities, specifying the types of e-waste they handle and their recycling processes.
Service Integration: Recyclers can connect with consumers to accept direct drop-offs or schedule pickups.
Product Management: Recyclers can manage products they receive and update their status in the system.

Recyclers can obtain information about manufacturers such as Manufacturer UID and Product ID from Manufacturer Details page as shown below:

Recycling request rejection email: Recyclers can reject product recycling request and the consumer will receive an email stating the reason for the rejection. Emails are sent using the SendGrid API.

Consumer

Consumers can use the platform to recycle their electronic products responsibly.

Technical Details

QR Code Scanning: Consumers can scan QR codes on their products to view recycling instructions and locate nearby recyclers.
Product Registration: Register products to track their recyclability and lifecycle.
Recycling Options: Schedule recycling pickups or drop-offs with registered recyclers.

Government

Government organizations can use the platform to oversee e-waste management and enforce regulations.

Technical Details

Government organizations can certify manufacturers and recyclers for their authenticity.

Future Scope:

Data Analytics: Access data on e-waste recycling activities, including recycler performance and product lifecycle tracking.
Policy Enforcement: Monitor compliance with e-waste regulations and promote sustainable practices.
Public Awareness: Use the platform to educate the public about responsible e-waste management.

Prototype Demo Videos

Watch the following demo videos to see the Unified E-Waste Management Platform prototype in action.

Old Demo Video

New Demo Video

About the Team

The Unified E-Waste Management Platform is developed by a passionate team dedicated to promoting sustainability and responsible e-waste management.

Credits

We would like to acknowledge the following:

React Icons for iconography.
React Bits for the animated UI components.
emgithub for embedding files from GitHub.
Images from freepik:
- Why Choose UEMP
- Our Mission