South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said on Sunday they will begin a pilot run of the AI-based waste disposal support application, "Gajyeoga", in Seoul's Eunpyeong district from Oct. 13.

Gajyeoga is a service developed as part of the science ministry's "Public AX Project". It aims to reduce inconvenience for residents caused by different waste disposal rules and procedures across regions. It supports processes ranging from guidance on sorting waste to paying fees for bulky waste disposal in a single app.

Key functions include automatic waste identification, customised disposal guidance and applications for bulky waste collection. When a user takes a photo of waste with a smartphone camera, the AI automatically recognises and classifies the item. Based on location information (GPS), it provides the relevant area's disposal days, fees and sorting methods. For large furniture and home appliances, users can file a disposal report and pay fees through the app.

The government will verify the AI model's waste identification accuracy, as well as service convenience and stability, through the Eunpyeong pilot. It will enhance the service by reflecting user feedback and operational data, and expand it in stages by considering local governments' demand and maintenance conditions. Eunpyeong residents can download the Gajyeoga app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store from Oct. 13.

Hong Seong-wan (홍성완), director general for ICT Policy at the science ministry, said, "We will work with relevant ministries to prepare various services so that the public can meaningfully experience the benefits of AI in daily life."

Kim Go-eung (김고응), director general for Resource Circulation at the climate, energy and environment ministry, said, "We will actively promote AI-based resource-circulation administration to eliminate inconvenience caused by complicated waste disposal procedures and help establish a proper culture of separating waste."