Panda uses cameras on bin lorries to monitor recycling

Panda, a major waste management company in Ireland, will install cameras on its bin lorries. These cameras will help identify incorrect waste disposal in recycling bins. The goal is to improve recycling rates and educate households on proper waste segregation. Currently, Panda does not plan to impose fines for wrong waste disposal. However, they have successfully tested the cameras and found that they significantly reduce contamination in recycling bins. During an 18-month trial in Dublin, the contamination rate dropped from 50% to just 5%. The cameras will photograph materials as they are dumped into the truck. Each bin is linked to a customer's address, allowing for personalized feedback. If residents consistently fail to follow recycling rules, they may face higher charges in the future, according to the Irish Waste Management Association. The initiative is funded by Repak, a body promoting recycling, and it will cost waste operators between €15 million and €20 million. The program will also monitor general waste bins to identify inappropriate materials. Proper waste disposal is important. The brown bin is for food waste, the green or blue bin is for recyclables like plastics and metals, and the black or purple bin is for general waste. Some items, like clothing and certain hazardous materials, should not go in regular bins and should instead be taken to recycling centers.