Applying AI to smart garbage collection technology

Bền bỉ với mục tiêu thành phố không rác - Ảnh 1.

6 years is not a simple journey, but Mr. Nguyen Trong Minh - the founder of Grac - still maintains the enthusiasm of the early days, and every step forward, idea, and new project is constantly tested by Grac.

Grac Green Point "Green Recycling Point"

The latest project implemented by Grac is Grac Green Point. This is a model of recycling waste collection for apartments, shops, schools, buildings, expanding to residential areas in the city.

When customers shop, they can earn Grac points from redeeming their recycled waste for points or money on the app. The points can be used to purchase directly at the store or any Grac partner.

"The leaders of District 8 People's Committee are very interested in this program. A meeting was chaired by the Vice Chairman of District 8 People's Committee with representatives of 16 wards and Grac to quickly promote the pilot implementation of Green Point in the district" - Mr. Minh excitedly boasted.

This model is quite popular in Japan as well as many European countries. Japan is famous for its strict waste classification and recycling system. Sweden has an advanced recycling system with collection points in many residential areas, schools and mobile recycling stations.

Many people complain that even though they classify, the garbage is still collected together, so why classify it? "If garbage collection and classification points are established, there will be a place to bring the classified garbage, surely many people will be more active in classifying garbage. After classification, the garbage is transferred to professional recycling units" - Mr. Minh shared.

Grac has learned from the practices of some countries, calling on chain stores, schools, buildings... to register to become Grac Green Point.

With the first two Grac Green Points now in place, Grac aims to increase the number to 323 by 2025, collecting nearly 59,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year. By 2030, the number of Grac Green Points is expected to multiply by 10, to 3,230, and collect about 590,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.

Bền bỉ với mục tiêu thành phố không rác - Ảnh 2. — A trial Grac Green Point is located at the Grac office in the Sky Center apartment complex (No. 10 Pho Quang, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo: VU THUY

AI application for waste classification

Grac has been working with districts in Ho Chi Minh City for many years to provide software as a service (SaaS) solutions to support waste source management (households), waste volume and collection time. They also developed the Grac mobile application to encourage people to participate in waste classification on Google Play and App Store.

Users can schedule bulky waste collection or submit complaints about waste fees, collection times, even report illegal dumping and accumulate reward points for participating. Reward points can be redeemed for products, services or cash from Grac partners.

To date, about 200 People's Committees of wards and communes in Thu Duc City, along with Districts 3, Go Vap, Binh Thanh, and Phu Nhuan, have applied this technology to more than 1 million waste generators and households. The expansion of connections is still continuing with the expectation that in the near future, data digitization will be completed to help form a connection network between households, collection units, and the government.

According to Grac founder, people can try out the AI chat (Grac Saola) being developed at http://chat.grac.vn/. Users take a photo of trash and ask if it is recyclable, the system will send a detailed answer.

The potential of AI technology in improving the efficiency of plastic waste management is still huge and Grac is currently looking for investors to support project development for this zero-waste city vision.

According to calculations, AI technology can be applied in many aspects of waste management from collection, classification to recycling. AI can collect data on the amount of waste from different sources, thereby analyzing trends and predicting the increase of plastic waste over a specific time and location.

Additionally, AI combined with machine learning can help the system classify waste more accurately instead of relying on humans. It is capable of distinguishing plastic from other types of waste using image algorithms.

AI applications can predict the amount of waste at collection points, thereby coordinating collection vehicles appropriately, saving fuel, reducing emissions, and optimizing the transportation and collection process.

Mr. NGUYEN TRONG MINH

Smart collection system

One of the standout solutions that Grac Tech is developing is a smart waste collection system that uses AI to manage data on plastic waste in large urban areas. Instead of relying on scheduled waste collection, the system is capable of collecting information from smart bins, predicting when the bins will be full and dispatching collection trucks to arrive at the right time.

This not only helps save operating costs but also minimizes the situation of full or overloaded trash bins, avoiding garbage spillage. This AI system is also capable of predicting the amount of waste that will arise in the future, helping management agencies plan collection more accurately and effectively.

Tuoi Tre Start-up Award 2024 accepts registrations until October 20

Tuoi Tre Start-up Award 2024 is organized by Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, in collaboration with the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC) and the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam). The program is supported by the following units: VinaCapital, ACB Bank, Volvo, KN Group, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, An Hoa, Faslink, Ecco Golf Vietnam and Tin Nghia.

The program hopes to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit of young people, helping to nurture ideas and determination for green startups and sustainable development. Thereby, it seeks and honors effective startup models that bring value to society and the country, contributing to supporting businesses and individuals starting up to approach investors and startup funds.

There will be many activities within the framework of the program, currently accepting applications until October 20 at email: [email protected], or visit the Tuoi Tre Start-up Award 2024 website to fill out the registration form and submit your project.