LitterAct

LitterAct is mobile platform helping individuals and businesses taking action against litter and introducing monetization on top. LitterAct is building global database of litter analyzed with AI to determine their sources and types. Based on data we are proposing the ability to organize, promote and sponsor cleanups, with the addition of rewarded events where anyone can offer money for cleanup of pointed place. Voluntary and rewarded cleanups provide huge opportunity to disrupt current models of public space cleaning.

Littering, waste and the need to extract resources instead of recycling cause huge bad impact on our environment. $11,5 billion is spent yearly on litter cleanups resulting in only 30% of recycled waste. Social awareness of the problem and it’s media presence is huge resulting in impressive popularity of voluntary litter cleanups organized spontaneously by multiple individuals, communities and companies. Actions like the #TrashTag challenge prove the importance and willingness of people to take action, however at the moment the actions and cleanups are totally not structured and there is no common place to organize, promote or sponsor them. Moreover, in the EU only, 2,5 million people work in the cleaning industry, very traditional global cleaning services market will reach 75 bln USD by the year 2022. Disruption and bringing new approach into it, can open enormous opportunities.

Primary beneficiaries of LitterAct are the inhabitants living in local communities that will be cleaned up. Obviously living in clean neighborhoods with clean green areas around is something that can’t be underestimated. Besides clean environment, cleanups can build communities around people that understand environmental topics and will share their values to others. Ecology knowledge and environmental awareness is already high in developed countries like USA or Germany, but many Asian or Eastern European countries have still a long way to go until they will build common belief in the fact that our environment is important.

Local authorities are the second mostly influenced group. They will have a chance to stimulate local people or companies to quickly organize cleanups of places that need that the most. Whether it will be a voluntary cleanup in #TrashTagChallenge style or a rewarded one is not crucial, what is important is that LitterAct will track progress and direct the cleaning process in more systematic way.

Recycling points will get access to segregated resources that were earlier considered as lost for the economy. Materials that are not primary goal for recycling companies will be gathered as well by passionate individuals.

LitterAct solution involves the development of a new technology for autonomous recognition, classification and parameterization of litter based on the provided photo. The technology is to operate based on artificial intelligence. As part of our solution, a prototype tool will be developed that uses artificial intelligence to collect and process detailed data on public space pollution and allowing to take active measures to eliminate the problem of pollution.

The subject of the solution is to conduct research and development in the following areas: 1). Acquiring, recognizing and describing the problem of public space pollution on a global scale. 2) Research and tests related to the teaching of artificial intelligence 3.Developing an autonomous data analysis and interpretation system

The finished solution will be a global social networking system, available through a web browser and mobile application. The main functionalities of the system are: - taking photos of litter in public space using a mobile application (photos will be taken by the LitterAct community, thereby building a global database);

- processing of photos by an artificial intelligence system and obtaining very detailed data (type, material, quantity, size of waste in the cluster); - presentation of a map showing world litter, the concentration and location of garbage on a global, local and single area, together with detailed data on the type, material, quantity, waste producer;

- generating detailed analyzes, statistics and reports; 

- volunteer, paid and sponsored cleanups.

The project is directed to the following groups of recipients: 

1). central and local government authorities and enterprises from the waste management sector, 

2). environmental organizations, 

3). business (with particular emphasis on corporate enterprises), 

4). individual "collectors" / other users of the application.

Main innovation that we are proposing is the business model and litter recognition technology. Instead of randomly fighting the littering problem, we want to understand it by gathering detailed data and monetizing the actions people take to solve it by introduction of rewarded cleanups and promotion of voluntary cleanups for precisely pointed places. We are adding digital layer on a traditional industry.

Recent popularity of the #TrashTag challenge is impressive. It’s a movement with positive impact on local communities, their unity and mainly on natural environment. Driven by the belief that local people know best what their surroundings need and will take care about their environment in the best possible way, we want to propose a new business model for litter cleanups and recycling. This combination of  litter cleaning and data driven approach is innovative on one hand but on the other is already proved to work well with the #TrashTag challenge. Usage of platform for cleanups organizing together with global litter data will allow us to analyze lots of data. As part of our solution we will be using big data techniques, looking for most littered locations and their correspondence with surroundings. Analysis of litter types, combined with places where they were found will allow to plan correct steps in preventing littering  and optimizing the way cities are planned. Generation of reports for local authorities and communities will provide data, that when correctly used, will open new opportunities for public space planning or where to concentrate educational efforts.

At the moment we are at PoC stage and funds gathering. In 5 years we plan to be serving around 1 mln people.

3 full time

3 part time contractors

We are a team of seasoned software industry experts with strong drive for innovation. We have multiple years of experience building different types of software, from custom based desktop solutions, via embedded software and ending on cloud based SaaS platforms. We have been working in different IT roles, starting from development and finishing on creation of complex software architecture, management of programs containing of multiple projects and on business development. We have expertise and understanding of setting up of profitable organizations, building performing and motivated teams and using external providers when needed to drive our endeavors to success.

All of us live in neighborhoods where littering is common, where it isn’t anything special to see piles of trash in the forest or on the river side. We have faced the problem of not enough reactions from local authorities and helplessness when trying to find ways to get our neighborhoods cleaned. As a result we already participated in local cleanups, we felt that was the only possible way – organize our self’s with others and get the needed things done.

We are using our technology experience and combining it with very high motivation to do something that makes a difference for all of us and natural environment. We as well have children, we just can’t agree to leave our neighborhoods littered and let them play in such conditions or never see wildlife in clean natural environment.

1. Partnerships

2. Solution Promotion and better Recognition

3. Better Market understanding

4. Looking for investors