Ayase City in Kanagawa Prefecture has launched a pilot test of the Aigomi Box, an AI-equipped battery collection system [1, 2].
The initiative addresses the growing risk of lithium-ion battery fires during waste collection and processing. By automating the identification of battery types, the city aims to secure the waste stream and increase the efficiency of resource recycling [1, 2].
Located at Ayase City Hall, the Aigomi Box is the first battery collection box in Japan to feature an integrated AI camera [1]. The system is designed to determine the specific type of battery deposited within a few seconds [1]. This rapid identification allows officials to sort hazardous materials more accurately before they enter the broader waste management system.
Takuya Fukushima, a resource-circulation officer for Ayase City, said the project is intended to prevent fires in collection vehicles and processing facilities while contributing to the circular economy of batteries [1, 2].
The pilot test serves as a proof of concept for how artificial intelligence can mitigate the dangers associated with improper battery disposal. Lithium-ion batteries can ignite if crushed or damaged during transport, posing a significant safety risk to sanitation workers and facility staff [1, 2].
By deploying this technology, Ayase City seeks to create a safer environment for waste management and ensure that valuable materials within batteries are recovered, and reused more effectively [1, 2].
“The Aigomi Box is the first battery collection box in Japan to feature an integrated AI camera.”
The deployment of the Aigomi Box reflects a shift toward integrating AI into municipal waste infrastructure to handle the specific volatility of modern electronics. As the prevalence of lithium-ion batteries increases in consumer goods, traditional manual sorting becomes a liability; automating this process reduces human error and prevents costly industrial accidents.
