A Shanghai company on Wednesday launched the country’s first digital monitoring system that uses artificial intelligence to improve household waste management, The Paper reported.

Shanghai Chengtou Group Corporation, which handles over 70 percent of the city’s waste, now uses real-time data to track waste collection and transportation, allowing the company to pinpoint sources of waste. High-resolution photos uploaded to a central database also help determine if waste materials have been properly sorted for recycling purposes.

In February, Shanghai announced a regulation on household waste management — going into effect July 1 — that aims to promote recycling and reduce waste in the city. Last year, Shanghai’s domestic households produced about 26,000 tons of garbage daily, among the most of any city in the country. (Image: The Paper)