Image courtesy of the DNR Michigan’s newest beach-cleaning robot, BeBot

Michigan has a new helper dedicated to keeping our beaches clean–a roving robot. Thanks to this new technology, named “BeBot,” trash like cigarette butts, food wrappers and plastic will be less common on inland lake beaches and Great Lakes Shorelines. BeBot was developed by Niteko Robotics, and will now be in many state park beaches. The electric-powered remote-operated robot can clear more than 30,000 feet an hour. 

“The Michigan state parks and recreation system strives to seek out innovations that help us operate efficiently, saving time and resources while delivering quality outdoor recreation experiences to our visitors,” said Ron Olson, the chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division.

“This innovative tool is an opportunity to improve our methods to maintain and clean beaches,” Olson added. 

The DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division bought BeBot in 2023. It was first used in southeast Michigan’s Rose Lake District. This summer, it was launched on Belle Isle for the first time. It is also used in areas such as the international Detroit River. 

“Since 2017, the Belle Isle Conservancy has educated thousands on the dangers of single-use plastic, removed upwards of 40,000 pounds of littered plastic pollution from Belle Isle and its waterways, and collaborated with local artists and designers to reuse waste collected at our cleanups to create and exhibit visual narratives around sustainability,” said Genevieve Rattray, the director of sustainability and advocacy for the Belle Isle Conservancy. 

Funded by Meijer, BeBot is helping to not only remove plastic waste but study its sources on beaches in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. 

“Meijer is proud to support the BeBot pilot program on Belle Isle Beach, which demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation in the Great Lakes region,” says Erik Petrovskis, the director of environmental compliance and sustainability at Meijer.

He continued, “As a family company with a long history of serving Michigan communities, we care deeply about the health and beauty of our natural resources and the well-being of our customers and team members. We applaud the City of Detroit for their leadership and collaboration in this groundbreaking initiative to reduce plastic waste and protect our waterways.” 

The DNR, along with the City of Detroit and other partners, will continue to secure funding to expand the Belle Isle cleanup, as well as purchase another BeBot. They are also working towards purchasing a PixieDrone, a remote-operated floating waste collector that could be used to clean local waterways. 

The Belle Isle Conservancy has plans to operate the BeBot during public cleanup events. They will also undergo waste characterizations. This process helps to determine how much paper, glass, food waste, and other materials are discarded. Data from these studies can be used to plan ways to reduce waste overall.