Press release, Embargoed for publication until 00:01, Wednesday 29th September 2021
Drone technology helps slash trash in Bournemouth litter hotspots by 75% Glow-in-the-dark bins, voting bins and positive messaging prove successful in ground-breaking trial. The most scientifically robust litter survey ever undertaken in the UK, today reveals groundbreaking results in how to reduce litter in urban, green and coastal areas across the UK. Lead by scientists at Ellipsis Earth, the trial which has taken part in three phases throughout the year, used drone technology and AI to identify litter hotspots across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to build an understanding of how litter was travelling across the area. Thanks to funding from McDonald’s, and its suppliers, the intelligence gathered from the cutting-edge technology, enabled environmental charity Hubbub to identify areas in need of specific litter-busting interventions. By creating bins that had positive, engaging messaging and placing them strategically throughout the area, findings from the final survey have shown a 75% decrease in litter in hotspots identified earlier in the year. The interventions that proved most successful with residents and visitors in Bournemouth were the glow-in-the-dark bins, which saw an 88% reduction of glass bottle and aluminum cans littered in the vicinity, and ballot bins, where an average reduction of 73% of cigarette butts was recorded, when placed in targeted locations. Bournemouth McDonald’s, which carries out daily litter patrols, used the data to find littering hotspots making their clean ups more effective.