During cleanup rounds along the Noordhollandsch Kanaal, the power of AI in addressing litter problems becomes clear. The new app Litterlens, developed by Capgemini, automatically recognizes the type of waste, its contents, and the brand. Users simply take a photo with their phone; the app captures location and time data and translates everything into heatmaps and visual reports.

The idea stems from Dirk Groot, known as the “zwerfinator,” who has meticulously documented litter since 2014. His extensive database helped shape the foundation for Litterlens. “Our goal is a digital Dirk,” says Marijn Markus of Capgemini.

The app enables low-cost, local analysis of pollution. For example, it was found that the areas just outside the Sail festival grounds were more polluted than the event space itself. Groot also envisions the data being used to hold companies accountable—linking packaging waste to specific brands.

The tool is accessible, working even on basic phones. With easier data collection, more people can participate in mapping urban waste, supporting better policies and a cleaner city.