In Nizhny Novgorod, thanks to smart devices for separate waste collection developed by EcoPoint, 8 thousand residents began to earn money by distributing recyclables. These unique devices, which have been in operation since 2023, allow users to choose how they will receive rewards for waste collection (money on a bank card or points for affiliate programs). For example, for a plastic bottle with a volume of up to 2 liters, you can get up to 90 kopecks, and 1 kg of paper costs 10 rubles. But, as the company notes, most people donate recyclables not for money, but out of concern for the environment.
The smart devices are equipped with a camera, scales and artificial intelligence that can accurately identify various types of recyclable materials, including plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans and waste paper, with an accuracy of over 97%. Users can easily interact with the devices by selecting the type of recyclable material via the interactive screen. The machine also indicates which items are suitable for recycling using color coding: green – suitable, yellow – requires better preparation and red – not suitable.
Recently, one of these devices was installed at the Gorky-Moskovsky transport depot for sorting waste by conductors. This not only increases the level of environmental responsibility, but also helps the company save on waste disposal. The pilot project will show how effective it is to work with smart devices, and if the results are good, it can be installed in other depots. EcoPoint also plans to expand the project and introduce its devices in other regions, trying to make separate waste collection accessible to everyone.
Source: Ferra
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