Northwest Wayne News

The City of Detroit, in collaboration with various partners, is set to introduce the 'BeBot' litter removal technology to clean up Belle Isle Beach and the Detroit River. The BeBot, a cutting-edge beach cleaning robot, is part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup initiative aimed at addressing plastic pollution in the region.

"The BeBot, an advanced method for managing litter, is a completely electric beach cleaning robot operated remotely," said Tim Slusser, Chief of the Office of Mobility Innovation at the City of Detroit. "By harnessing the power of BeBot, we are taking proactive steps to combat litter pollution and preserve the beauty of Belle Isle for generations to come."

The deployment of the BeBot is made possible through a partnership between the City of Detroit, the Belle Isle Conservancy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the CGLR Foundation, The Clorox Company, and Meijer. The BeBot is capable of cleaning 32,000 square feet per hour, removing various sizes of plastic debris such as bottles, food wrappers, and cigarette butts from the environment.

"The Detroit River serves a vital economic and ecological corridor between the United States and Canada," said Mark Fisher, the President and CEO of the CGLR network. "By partnering with the City of Detroit and the Belle Isle Conservancy, as well as The Clorox Company and Meijer, we are able to keep our beaches and waterways clean and free of plastic litter."

Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability at Meijer, expressed pride in supporting the BeBot pilot program, emphasizing the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation in the Great Lakes region.

The BeBot's deployment on Belle Isle Beach is a significant step towards understanding and addressing plastic litter pollution in the Great Lakes basin. The initiative aligns with the broader goal of creating a cleaner and healthier environment for all visitors and residents.

As part of ongoing efforts, the City of Detroit and its partners plan to seek funding to expand the initiative with additional BeBots and PixieDrones for waste collection in local waterways. The launch of the BeBot is scheduled to coincide with Earth Day, highlighting the collective dedication to environmental stewardship and protecting the Detroit River and Great Lakes for future generations.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to participate in public clean-up events to help maintain the cleanliness of Belle Isle. The Belle Isle Conservancy will operate the BeBot during these events, collecting data on waste characterizations and metrics to further combat plastic pollution.

The introduction of the BeBot on Belle Isle Beach represents a progressive step in utilizing technology and collaboration to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability in the Great Lakes region.