Bin It Right

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Overview:

We collaborated with Campbelltown City Council to develop “Bin It Right,” a mobile game aimed at teaching local children correct recycling practices. The game was designed to engage young players in a fun, interactive way while providing measurable improvements in waste-sorting behaviour.

Challenge:

The council faced a challenge: contamination in recycling bins was rising, meaning residents were putting items in the wrong waste streams. They needed a creative way to educate children and, by extension, their families, to reduce this contamination.

Approach:

We used Unity to build a cross-platform mobile game for both Android and iOS. The game featured a unique Australian suburban theme, incorporating local landmarks like the Campbelltown Arts Centre and the old Town Hall. Players managed a miniature version of Campbelltown, decontaminating areas and building community infrastructure. The game had two main mechanics: a sorting mini-game inspired by Fruit Ninja and a collection game where players drove recycling trucks. We also included a metagame where kids could unlock new infrastructure as a reward for correct recycling.

We offered two modes of play: a public mode for in-school bus visits where progress wasn’t saved, and a standard mode for personal devices where children could continue their progress at home.

Our Role:

We, at Code and Visual, managed the entire creative and technical process, from the game’s strategic direction and creative design though to 2D concept art, 3D modeling and final game development, in collaboration with the council and our team of artists.

Outcome:

The launch was a success, celebrated by the mayor and accompanied by themed mascots. The game is set up to provide clear metrics on its impact. As more children play, the council will be able to measure any reduction in recycling contamination and continue to assess the game’s effectiveness.

Why It Matters:

This project is a great example that highlights the power of gamification in driving real-world change. By tapping into different player motivations – whether it’s achieving high scores, enjoying the gameplay, or completing the metagame – we created an educational tool that’s both engaging and effective. It’s a perfect example of how digital experiences can foster better community habits.

Gamification Agency Sydney

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