A new service will be piloted that allows users to take photos of items they wish to dispose of with their smartphones. The artificial intelligence (AI) will identify the type of waste and provide information on local disposal methods and collection dates. Users can also report large waste items, pay fees, and request collection all in one process.
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on October 12 that the mobile application 'AI Waste Management Assistant in Your Hand, Take It Away' will begin its pilot program in Eunpyeong District, Seoul, starting October 13. This initiative is part of a public AI transformation (AX) project.
This service aims to reduce the inconvenience caused by varying waste disposal regulations and procedures across different local governments. When users take a photo of their waste, the AI automatically recognizes and classifies the item. It also provides information based on GPS location, including disposal days, fees, and separation methods.
For large waste items such as furniture and appliances, users can report disposal and pay fees directly through the app, eliminating the need to visit separate local government websites.
The government will first verify the accuracy of the AI's waste identification and the convenience and reliability of the service with Eunpyeong residents. Based on user feedback and operational data collected during the pilot, the service will be refined and gradually expanded, considering local government demand and maintenance conditions.
This project is one of 20 public AX projects promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, selected under the 'Citizen Experience' category. The National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) is the lead agency, with the Korea Environment Corporation as a partner and the Kyolim Soft Consortium as the executing agency.
The project period runs from October 2022 to the end of December 2023, with a total budget of 3.38 billion won, of which 2.55 billion won is funded by the national government. The national funding accounts for approximately 75.4% of the total project cost, with the government covering most of the initial development and pilot costs to validate the application in local government settings.
The Ministry of Environment expects this initiative to encourage proper waste separation while reducing the inconvenience for residents who have to look up regulations for each type of waste. Eunpyeong residents will be able to download the 'Take It Away' app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store starting October 13.
Kim Go-eung, Director of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "We will actively promote AI-based resource circulation administration to alleviate public inconvenience caused by complex waste disposal procedures and establish a culture of proper waste separation. We aim to create a stable model optimized for local government conditions through the pilot program in Eunpyeong District."
Hong Seong-wan, Director of Information and Communication Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, remarked, "This AI service will make citizens' daily lives more convenient. We will prepare various services so that the public can truly experience the benefits of AI."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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