E-waste is the rising tide.

Small e-waste
is the tsunami.

2022 · SMALL DEVICES: 20.4 Mt · ONLY 12% RECYCLED 2030 · 82 MtALL E-WASTE, PROJECTED

Electronic waste

Definition: Contains microchip, is powered by cord or battery

Impacts Environment & Health

↑ Attention & lack of agency → climate anxiety = inaction

Alex, 10

Alex wants a better future.

But he cannot see how one small action can make a difference.

Alex, a concerned ten-year-old child who feels that his actions do not matter

Why play

Agency of Play

Actmake a real choice

Seeget instant feedback

Retryfail safely

Masterbuild confidence

Results

Testing changed the game.

Fun before the messageThe sorting challenge worked even without environmental interest.
Failure became visibleAn unclear water fail state was exposed and redesigned.
Concept became productWhiteboard, paper, digital mock-up and native build.
Playable across devicesVerified on iPhone, iPadOS and Android.

Paper prototype displayed on a wall — Paper v1

Paper prototype on the work table — Paper v2

Participant acting during the 13 August playtest — Iteration

Time Wasted healthier game state with controls moved lower

The game

Time Wasted!

Objects fall. Choices reshape the world.

Tappop the battery

Swiperecycle or trash

Seeimpact on nature

Native · offline · no ads · no accounts · no data collection

Competition

Learning × Onboarding

Junkyard Builder · Timberborn
Simulation & strategy games

Low onboarding High onboarding Learning Candy Crush Loddlenaut Grow Recycling School lesson Junkyard Builder Recycling Center Sim Timberborn Time Wasted!

Qualitative positioning, not measured scores. Current official descriptions reviewed 13 August 2026.

After playing

But Alex already knows where your phone will end up.

Because…

Alex putting an old phone into an electronics recycling bin