A brand new challenge from recycling charity RECOUP goals to develop a standardized, evidence-based methodology for gathering and analysing litter, making a complete knowledge set.
The Litter Composition & Pathways Undertaking (LCPP) addresses a niche in policymakers’ understanding of this advanced and rising downside, paving the best way for a extra data-driven and efficient method to tackling it.
As RECOUP explains, present litter tasks usually face limitations in knowledge assortment strategies, resulting in a scarcity of consistency and reliability. Many research depend on citizen science, which, whereas precious, might not all the time present probably the most dependable knowledge.
“Peer reviewing of the methodology will make sure the reliability and validity of the collected knowledge,” says RECOUP.
Synthetic Intelligence (AI) has additionally been used to analyse the composition of litter and binned supplies. As a part of this challenge, RECOUP says it will likely be exploring the chances round this expertise and its potential to be a extremely environment friendly, extremely efficient possibility for producing scalable knowledge on litter sooner or later.
What subsequent?
At this stage, RECOUP has developed a draft methodology for litter assortment and sorting, and that is now prepared for testing and peer reviewing. Its work on analysing litter with AI has additionally accomplished its preliminary part.
It’s now establishing a devoted “Litter Lab”, the place it plans to conduct superior evaluation.
The group plans to collaborate with native litter selecting teams. As soon as the methodology is finalised and the info is collected, it will likely be shared with the UK authorities, devolved administrations, and key stakeholders to tell and advise coverage choices. “The evidence-based insights gained from this challenge will assist within the improvement of focused interventions to fight litter air pollution successfully.”
“By establishing a standardized methodology RECOUP is paving the best way for knowledgeable coverage choices and complete litter administration methods.”
If you need to contribute to the challenge, please e mail: enquiry@recoup.org.
