Michigan city to retrofit recycling trucks with AI technology

The city of Holland, Michigan, has launched a 12-month pilot program with Prairie Robotics to improve residential recycling, WHTC reports.

With the help of the Recycling Partnership and a $38,000 grant from the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the city will install high-tech cameras, global positioning systems and computers using artificial intelligence (AI) on city recycling trucks to check the contents of curbside recycling bins.

Holland is the third municipality in Michigan to incorporate Prairie Robotics technology into its recycling service, according to Fox 17 West Michigan.

RELATED: Data, analysis, cameras up the recycling game in Michigan city

The surveillance technology is designed to ensure residents are placing only proper recycling materials inside bins and will help city officials in tailoring “constructive feedback” on an individual household level. When items that shouldn’t be placed in recycling bins are spotted by the AI technology, the city is notified through a computer system and prompted to send the homeowner an educational postcard.

The city of Holland has received a gold certification as part of the Michigan Green Communities Challenge for its leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and resilience, recycling, environmental justice and more. The city is one of 36 across the state to achieve gold certification.