Software Developer Creates AI Litter Tracker to Quantify Roadside Waste

A software developer has created an artificial intelligence-powered application designed to automatically detect and log roadside litter, aiming to quantify the extent of the problem and encourage action.

Robin Bennett, based in Shrewsbury, developed the "litter dashcam" app after experiencing growing frustration with the amount of rubbish he observed along roadsides. He sought to determine if the issue was specific to his local area or a broader national concern.

The application, mounted on a vehicle's dashboard, captures a photograph every 10 seconds. It then identifies visible litter, assesses it against a national standard, and uploads the data. Bennett stated that the app is designed to be non-distracting, with the screen turning black after activation.

So far, the Roadside Litter app has logged over 3,000 reports in Shropshire and more than 28,000 across the United Kingdom. Bennett has shared this data with the anti-litter campaign group Clean Up Britain, hoping it will spur initiatives to address the issue. He noted that litter appears to be particularly prevalent near convenience stores, fast-food establishments, and motorway service stations.

Shropshire Council has indicated it is investigating methods to improve litter management on some of the county's busier roadways. Bennett, who operates a software company in Telford, described the volume of roadside waste as "really depressing" and initiated the app's development to gather concrete data on the problem.