Ho Chi Minh City river clean-up group to roll out trash-collecting robots to cut manual labor

The initiative will help reduce manual labor in canal clean-ups as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the club’s waste collection equipment.

Initial results showed the robot was effective in collecting floating trash in areas with low waste density.

In sections where trash was dense and the canal was shallow, its performance slowed down.

Following the trial, the club will continue to adjust and improve the robot, adding cameras for better monitoring.

They are also developing two upgraded models with higher capacity and greater collection ability, named Module and Thuy Luc.

Specifically, the current robot can collect floating trash in low-density areas with a bin capacity of about 80 liters.

The Module model can handle medium-density floating waste with a bin capacity of around 170 liters, while the Thuy Luc is designed for dense, tightly packed floating trash, including nearshore waste, with a 220-liter bin.

According to Ngoc, the trash-collecting robots are solar-powered and can be used not only for waste collection but also for rescue efforts during storms and floods.

They are remotely operated via a controller or computer and equipped with a camera.

“We constantly improve the robots and adjust their settings to suit the trash-filled canals,” Ngoc said.

Founded in 2022, Sai Gon Xanh engages volunteers and young people to clean and recycle river waste, raise public awareness, as well as promote community action for sustainability across Vietnam and beyond.

In addition to the robots, the club is also upgrading trash booms so cleaners can stand on them instead of wading in the water, improving both efficiency and safety.