The Challenge
Illegal dumping is an ongoing problem for local government waste management teams. Cleaning up dumped trash can cost local governments a significant amount each year, and dumping also damages infrastructure and requires environmental restoration.
The LGU was frequently affected by dumped trash, which resulted in:
- Regularly scheduled waste management trucks being unable to collect the trash piles and mattresses
- Manual collection services being dispatched reactively rather than on optimized routes and loads
- A reliance on enforcement officers and residents to report trash piles and mattresses, which could take weeks
The Solution
Blackbook AI built an annotated dataset using historical data from smart-enabled trucks and in-cabin triggers.
Using GNSS-linked camera footage from the garbage trucks, a computer vision model detects trash piles and mattresses and pinpoints their location. An API then sends the LGU the street addresses of locations that need a curbside pickup.
The Outcomes
The LGU was able to unlock the value of its raw camera data to drive decision-making.
Key outcomes included:
- Significant cost savings from route and load optimization of dispatch services
- Faster response times for pickups
- Targeted campaigns and response monitoring
- Improved coverage through existing garbage truck schedules, with less reliance on enforcement officers and residents
FAQs
How does the system detect illegal dumping?
Why use garbage truck cameras?
Why does this work for LGUs in the Philippines?
