AI cameras catch drivers littering in Yorkshire, England’s £4M cleanup fight

East Riding of Yorkshire Council, a local government authority in northern England, has launched a 12-week pilot program using AI-powered CCTV cameras to catch drivers who litter on roadways. The trial, conducted with technology company Litter Cam, represents a new approach to combating littering that costs the council approximately £4 million annually to clean up.

How it works: The AI system combines computer vision with automated license plate recognition to identify and record littering incidents in real-time.

• A camera positioned on the A164 near Willerby Roundabout uses AI software to detect when drivers dump trash from their vehicles.
• The system automatically captures license plate numbers and records evidence of the littering offense.
• Council officials then use this information to contact and potentially fine the offenders.

Why this matters: Local authorities are increasingly turning to automated enforcement technologies to address persistent public health and environmental issues while managing stretched budgets.

• Street cleaning, including roadside maintenance, costs East Riding of Yorkshire Council around £4 million per year.
• Traditional enforcement methods rely on human witnesses or officers catching offenders in the act, making prosecution difficult.

What’s next: The council plans to expand the program if the initial trial proves successful.

• Additional cameras could be installed at known litter hotspots across the county through a longer-term partnership with Litter Cam.
• The technology represents what officials call a “key element” of their broader anti-littering strategy.

What they’re saying: Council and company officials emphasize the role of modern technology in addressing environmental challenges.

• “Littering is against the law and keeping our streets clean – including our roadsides – costs the council around £4m a year,” said Lyn Healing, the council’s cabinet member for communities and public protection.
• “We are delighted to be working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, supporting them in tackling the blight of litter,” noted Andrew Kemp, chief executive of Litter Cam.