Grand Rapids residents might be getting a postcard in their mailboxes soon telling them something in their recycling bin isn’t able to be accepted.

That’s because the city is part of a pilot program of new cameras that can detect what is being dumped in the truck. Most of the trucks already have cameras on them, but these cameras are special because they can detect items that can’t be accepted at their facilities.

There are three trucks that have these new cameras that will take recycling from more than 60,000 households in Grand Rapids. The city is the fourth in the state, one of which is Holland, to try out these cameras.

The Grand Rapids Public Works Department said the most common items that aren’t accepted are plastic bags and Styrofoam. Organizers hope that having these cameras will help make the recycling process easier for everyone.

“We hope that ultimately it’s successful, we hope that we can communicate effectively with our residents and again it’s an educational tool that we hope creates a better end product, more reusable recyclables, less contamination,” public works director John Gorney said.

The city said if it sees positive results with the program, it plans to pay for the cameras. There is not yet an estimate on how much that will cost.

Courtesy : woodtv.com