BeBot, an autonomous robot designed to clean sand from small waste, has appeared on Gdańsk’s Stogi beach. It is the first device of its kind in Poland, powered by solar energy and adapted to work in coastal conditions.
Cleaning with ecology in mind
BeBot removes small waste from the beach, such as cigarette butts, bottle caps, fragments of plastic or glass. Powered by electricity, including solar energy, it emits no fumes or noise, so it can work without disturbing beachgoers. It cleans the sand to a depth of 10 centimetres and its daily capacity allows it to collect up to 150 kilograms of rubbish. Over six months of operation, the robot can remove approximately 27.5 tonnes of waste!
BeBot supported by the Baltic Hub
The purchase of the robot was financed by the Baltic Hub consortium, which manages three container terminals in Gdansk. The device was handed over to the Gdansk Sports Centre, which is responsible for keeping Gdansk’s 17 kilometres of beaches clean. According to the city, 310 tonnes of rubbish were collected from them last season alone.
First tests and reactions of tourists
During the first tests, BeBot collected 8.5 kilograms of waste in 10 minutes. The robot’s work was managed by an operator from the Gdansk Sports Centre, Szymon Neumann. His presence quickly attracted the attention of tourists, who watched the machine with curiosity and took pictures of it. As Dominika Million, Director of Sustainable Development at the Baltic Hub, emphasised, the robot effectively removes rubbish without disturbing the natural structure of the beach.
BeBot as an aid to cleaning services
BeBot is primarily intended to be used to thoroughly clean the busiest parts of the beach, including the volleyball courts. Its remote control allows the operator to work from a distance of up to 300 metres. According to the Gdańsk authorities, the device will complement the activities of traditional cleaning services, increasing the effectiveness of cleaning during the summer season.
Environmental education and further investments
The Gdańsk Sports Centre is also planning ecological workshops for children and young people. The classes will be combined with a presentation of BeBot’s work and education on the negative impact of littering on beaches on the environment. The Baltic Hub also announces further investments in beach infrastructure. The project is to purchase new lifeboats, jet skis, quad bikes, kayaks, lifeguard towers and changing rooms. Specialised PortBin Tide bins, designed to collect floating waste from the water, will also appear on the beach.
Source: gdansk.pl, baltichub.com
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