Gwangju Bukgu to Install 10 Additional AI-Powered Unmanned Recycling Collection Machines

Operation Scheduled for June After Donation Review
Expanded to a Total of 19 Units... Improved Convenience for Waste Separation

Gwangju Bukgu announced on May 7 that it has received a donation of 10 AI-powered unmanned recycling collection machines, which are scheduled to be installed and put into operation by June.

Exterior view of Gwangju Bukgu Government Office.

These devices are smart collection machines that automatically identify transparent PET bottles or cans?provided that labels and foreign substances have been removed?using artificial intelligence, and award 10 points per item. Residents can exchange points for cash once they accumulate over 2,000 points, which encourages voluntary participation in waste separation and helps raise awareness of resource circulation.

The additional 10 machines being installed this time were donated by two companies, including Superbin Co., Ltd., which expressed their intention to donate to Bukgu at the end of March. The total value of the donation is approximately 270 million KRW. The donation was officially accepted as donated goods after a review by the Donation Review Committee on April 29.

The donation consists of one single-function machine and nine multi-function machines, with nine of the machines being used equipment. However, under the terms of the donation, all internal parts have been replaced and the machines have only been used for a short period, so the district decided to install them, taking into account budget savings and resident convenience.

Bukgu plans to finalize the installation locations and begin operation in June, after completing a demand survey among the 27 administrative welfare centers in the district. With these 10 new machines added to the existing nine, the total number of AI-powered unmanned collection machines in Bukgu will increase to 19.