The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is permanently implementing AI-powered technology on recycling trucks to cut down on bin contamination.
The decision follows a pilot program with waste hauler Environmental 360 Solutions (E360S) which reduced contamination by 23 per cent. Starting this month, residents who need to improve their recycling will get yellow postcards in the mail.
鈥淭he postcards provide personalized feedback to help residents correct their recycling habits,鈥� said Cynthia Coates, RDCO solid waste supervisor. 鈥淲e aim to increase awareness and understanding of what goes in those carts, what is causing a problem and how to fix it.鈥�
An agreement with Recycle BC requires contamination rates to be at five per cent or less, but recent audits have shown higher rates according to an RDCO media release.
Data from the 2024 pilot program revealed that 46 per cent of Central Okanagan residents recycle correctly, and another 35 per cent changed their behaviour after receiving one educational postcard. However, nearly seven per cent of households, labelled as repeat offenders, were responsible for over a third of the contamination.
The AI-powered program will provide information on areas needing additional education or enforcement to lower contamination rates.
鈥淓nvironmental 360S is committed to enhancing the region鈥檚 recycling efforts through this smart technology,鈥漵aid Jan Andersen, district manager at 麻豆精选 E360S. 鈥淩educing contamination is part of our contractual obligation with the RDCO and member municipalities, and we are pleased to use this state-of-the-art system to help improve contamination across the region.鈥�
The AI smart camera tech, powered by Prairie Robotics, has been used in over thirty communities across Canada and the US since 2021.
For more information on recycling visit the RDCO website.
