Bruxelles-Propreté to use AI to see which streets need cleaning most

Bruxelles-Propreté, the capital's waste management and public cleanliness organisation, is to begin experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to check the amount of dirt on Brussels’ pavements and roads.

"Today, for example, a street is cleaned three times a week, no matter how dirty it is," said Bruxelles-Propreté chief executive Frédéric Fontaine.

"In order to work more efficiently, we will install cameras on four lorries that will check exactly how dirty the pavements are, so we will know if we need to sweep more or less,” he told Bruzz.

“These cameras do not recognise faces – and so much the better in in terms of privacy – but they do recognise cigarette butts, dog excrement, chocolate wrappers, bottles and so on.

"For example, we will assess the cleanliness of a street, and depending on this, we will reduce or increase the frequency of cleaning, or we will sweep only part of the street."

He added: "The cameras will map out the cleanliness of regional roads in ten municipalities over a four-month period."

In general, for Fontaine, “the cleanest town is not the one where people clean the most, but the one where they pollute the least”.

Bruxelles-Propreté is organising what it describes as a "cleanliness triathlon" to try to stop bins being put out at the right times.

"We will go three times to a chosen area: the first to put stickers on badly sorted bags; and, the second to ring on the doors of residents and shopkeepers, and to warn them about fines," Fontaine said.

"The third time we will identify the offences and give out the penalties. We will then note the percentage of badly sorted or discarded waste, with the message that we will return."

Turning to another key problem, he said in autumn, Bruxelles-Propreté would tackle waste dumping. This is a big issue, given that last year Brussels gave out more than 6,000 warnings, a 12% increase over 2022

Fines are high. The minimum is €500, and construction waste penalties can reach at least €1,000.

From 15 May 2023, food waste collections have been mandatory in the capital, Fontaine added: “It is not inconceivable that in future there will be two orange bag collections per week. But this will not be easy, as we would have to pay for this reform from our own pocket.”

Finally, in view of the European and parliamentary elections in June and of the local elections in October, he called for an agreement on priorities, to receive enough money and staff to carry out what needs to be done.

He added: “Cleanliness should not be the responsibility of one minister, but of the whole government. This is necessary to achieve major changes."