The fight against litter and the resulting plastic pollution has been going on for a long time, but no detailed research has ever been conducted to tackle this problem in a targeted manner. Dirk Groot, also known as the Zwerfinator, has been doing this for a number of years by photographing everything he picks up and manually adding data labels. With support from the Spronck Foundation, he was able to develop AI software in 2024 that has made this process much faster, more efficient and more consistent.

Research objective

With his research method, the Zwerfinator is already helping municipalities and companies to reduce their litter problem in a targeted manner, and the results of his research played an important role in the introduction of deposit refunds in the Netherlands. The data he collects has also led to a number of plastic candy wrappers being replaced by paper wrappers, water balloons disappearing, and plastic confetti and fireworks being removed from the shelves. In addition, his research and campaigns continuously influence public and political debate.

Development of research method

The Zwerfinator Foundation was established to further develop and disseminate the research method.

In the first months of 2025, the AI software was extensively tested in his research in the Netherlands and in trials in which a group of people took photos of litter. It was also used in research in Belgium. The AI photo recognition system correctly identifies 93% of the litter found in one go, i.e. the type, raw material, content and brand are correctly recognised.

Next steps

The Zwerfinator Foundation is currently developing a platform that will make it easier to collect large amounts of data and enable other parties, such as municipalities and other government agencies, to conduct effective research in a simple and easy manner.

In addition, various parties are currently investigating whether the AI software can also be used for research in and along waterways.