AI-Powered Garbage Trucks Will Analyze Your Waste to Educate You on Recycling

      Mack

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      We’ve arrived at a stage where AI is omnipresent. It's integrated into our smartphones, computers—maybe even into our breakfast cereals. All right, maybe that's a stretch, but would it really surprise you? It certainly wouldn't surprise me, especially given the recent report from the Dayton Daily News regarding AI-equipped garbage trucks.

      This week, Centerville, Ohio's Public Works department introduced a fleet of recycling trucks that feature artificial intelligence for sorting. These machines scan through residents’ waste to ensure that food scraps and batteries aren’t improperly discarded. And let’s not forget about other personal items that might get thrown away.

      “Reducing contamination in our recycling system diminishes processing costs and enhances the overall efficiency of our collection,” stated City Manager Wayne Davis. “This technology enables us to identify problem areas, inform residents, and utilize city resources more effectively.”

      In a humorous twist, the findings from these trash trucks will be sent back to residents on personalized postcards. No joke. These cards will inform residents about items they should avoid putting in their recycling bins, such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, or used paper towels.

      To me, it resembles a report card. There’s no indication of whether letter grades will be included, but imagine getting an “A” in reading material and a “C” in composting. City of Centerville Public Works

      This raises legitimate privacy concerns for individuals who might not want their trash scrutinized, especially since it’s linked to specific addresses. While the system is mostly automated, there’s no guarantee a bystander won’t come across an image of your bin in the mailroom and notice something you’d rather keep private. According to the City of Centerville’s website, the service caters to around 6,500 customers, collecting approximately 8,000 tons of waste and 1,400 tons of recyclables annually.

      I doubt many individuals are concealing their deepest secrets in their recycling bins, but stranger occurrences have taken place.

      “A couple of the trucks have been gathering baseline recycling data, and we’ve been undergoing software training for a few weeks now,” stated Centerville spokesperson Kate Bostdorff.

      “Residents who consistently adhere to the guidelines will help maintain a clean, efficient, and cost-effective recycling stream for Centerville,” the city added.

      I admit that these concerns seem minor, yet they contribute to the ongoing debate about AI surveillance, which is far from trivial. Where will corporations and governments establish boundaries? Not here, but likely somewhere else.

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