AI to Decide Recycling in Alicante

Artificial intelligence is no longer a thing of the future, nor confined to large laboratories. In Alicante, this technology is being used for something as everyday as deciding where more recycling is needed. The City Council, in collaboration with Ecovidrio, has launched a pioneering campaign in the city that combines data, maps, and environmental education to improve the selective collection of glass containers.

The first neighbourhoods to experience this rollout will be San Agustín and Santa Cruz, although the initiative will extend to areas like Florida and Pla del Bon Repòs, covering a total of 104 census units. The goal? To make recycling easier for residents living in areas with potential for improvement. And it's not just a guess: an algorithm says so.

According to the area manager of Ecovidrio, Roberto Fuentes, the selection was made by cross-referencing glass collection data with variables such as population density or consumption, and comparing them with those of other Spanish cities. "This is how we identified the neighbourhoods where there is room for improvement," he indicated.

In total, 88 new green igloos will be installed, adding to those already in place. Additionally, a team of environmental educators will visit 74,700 homes to explain the campaign, answer questions, and raise awareness about the importance of correctly recycling glass.

The Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Environment, Manuel Villar, highlighted the value of applying artificial intelligence in such initiatives: "It helps us be more efficient and advance the goal of a circular economy. We use technology to care for the planet from the closest point: our neighbourhoods."

Residents of the selected areas will receive an informative letter in their mailboxes, in addition to a visit from specialised personnel. The idea is to reach directly into homes to talk face-to-face about a simple gesture—throwing glass into the green container—that has a real impact.

Glass is one of the materials that recycles best: it can be reused 100% and indefinitely, without losing quality. In Spain, 7 out of 10 containers are already recycled, but there is still room for improvement.

According to Ecovidrio, recycling 10 bottles saves the energy consumed by a smartphone for almost a year and prevents the polluting gases generated by a car travelling 15 kilometres.

The smart campaign by Ecovidrio and the City Council ultimately seeks one thing: for Alicante to recycle more and better. It does so by combining technology and proximity, data and streets, algorithms and people.