Latest news with #beachcleaning
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Robot cleans 32,000 square feet of beach per hour
Those people scanning the beach with metal detectors, hoping for a lucky find, might not be thrilled about what's next. While beaches are where we unwind, play, and connect with nature, they're also under constant threat from plastic pollution and human debris. That's where BeBot comes in. BeBot, an all-electric beach-cleaning robot developed in Italy by Niteko Robotics in partnership with 4ocean and Poralu Marine, is quietly transforming environmental technology. This innovative machine delivers a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable way to keep our shorelines pristine, combining advanced robotics with eco-friendly design. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join. BeBot operates entirely on electric power, relying on batteries and, in some versions, solar panels. This approach ensures there are no emissions, so the robot does not contribute to greenhouse gases or other forms of pollution. Unlike traditional gas-powered beach-cleaning equipment such as tractors, BeBot is quiet and unobtrusive, which allows it to work at any time without disturbing wildlife or beach visitors. Its cleaning capacity is impressive. BeBot can cover up to 32,200 square feet of beach in a single hour, which is 20 to 30 times more effective than manual trash collection. The robot can remove up to 200 pounds of debris in one session, targeting items like plastic bottles, cigarette butts, food packaging, and cotton buds. BeBot's design allows it to dig up to about four inches into the sand, and its sifting grids, which measure roughly half an inch by half an inch, capture even the smallest pieces of plastic and trash that would be difficult for people to collect by hand. Remote operation is another standout feature. BeBot can be controlled from up to 950 feet away, giving operators the flexibility to clean large or crowded beaches safely. Its unique track system distributes pressure evenly across the sand, which helps prevent beach erosion and protects sensitive habitats such as turtle nesting sites. The robot's battery can last up to three hours on a full charge, and some models can run for as long as eight hours. BeBot is not limited to trash collection. Its modular design supports a variety of attachments, allowing it to rake seaweed and algae, level sand, and carry heavy loads such as beach chairs, umbrellas, or even jet skis. With the sifter removed, BeBot can transport up to 900 pounds, making it a valuable tool for both public and private beaches, nature reserves, golf courses, and other sandy environments. BeBot has already demonstrated its effectiveness in places like Lake Tahoe, where Eco-Clean Solutions deployed it to clean over one million square feet of shoreline across twenty beaches. Videos of BeBot in action show the robot digging up all kinds of debris, including flip-flops and cigarette filters. The robot has also been used on beaches in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, and North Carolina. In each location, BeBot has received praise for its ability to remove hard-to-spot debris and for raising public awareness about the dangers of microplastics. BeBot is making a difference by protecting wildlife and ecosystems. Plastic pollution is not just unsightly; it is deadly for marine life. Millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, harming hundreds of species, including nearly half of all marine animals. BeBot's gentle cleaning process reduces these threats without disturbing sensitive habitats or compressing turtle eggs. Cleaner beaches lead to healthier ecosystems and better experiences for visitors. Because BeBot operates quietly and efficiently, it is ideal for popular tourist destinations where traditional machinery would be disruptive or damaging. The robot also sparks important conversations about pollution and inspires communities to take action, complementing human-led cleanups by targeting the small plastics that often go unnoticed. This little robot is making a big difference, showing us that you do not need massive machines to tackle massive problems. With help from organizations like 4ocean and Poralu Marine, BeBot is changing the game for beach cleanups and setting a new bar for what we can expect from eco-friendly tech. So, the next time you are strolling along the shore, keep an eye out for BeBot quietly doing its thing, helping to create cleaner beaches and a healthier future for everyone. What are your thoughts on using advanced technology like BeBot to tackle environmental challenges on our beaches? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
CBC
24-06-2025
- Science
- CBC
Meet the beach cleaning robot scrubbing Ontario parks clean
Don't be alarmed if you see a Zamboni-like rover roaming Ontario's shores this summer — it's a beach cleaning robot being tested in some provincial parks. The robot, called a BeBot, is a remotely operated and fully electric machine that removes plastic, glass, metal, paper and other debris from beaches with sand-sifting technology. "This technology allows us to capture some of the larger pieces of plastic before they actually enter the water," said Melissa DeYoung, CEO of environmental organization Pollution Probe, which launched the BeBot in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. DeYoung said it is "critically important" to remove litter and plastic before they enter lakes since they commonly break down into microplastics that can impact wildlife in the water. "We'll never be able to remove all of the plastic that's found in the environment, but what we can do is collect data on the types of plastic we're finding and then we have a very good sense of what the sources might be and where that plastic might be coming from," said DeYoung. The BeBot can clean up to 3,000 square metres per hour for up to eight hours and can remove the equivalent of around 19 bowling balls worth of plastic in one use, said DeYoung. The robot is battery-powered with a solar panel on the back and has a top speed of just below three kilometres per hour. The BeBot began its litter-cleaning work on the shores of Lake Simcoe at Sibbald Point Provincial Park this week, and will make its way to Inverhuron Provincial Park on Lake Huron in the next month. Then, it will head to Lake Erie's Long Point Provincial Park in late July and August, and Sandbanks Provincial Park and Darlington Provincial Park on Lake Ontario near the end of the summer. While removing litter is its main job, DeYoung said the robot's tour across the province also aims to encourage people to reduce waste. "Sometimes people think we don't have an issue because they can't spot that plastic in the water," DeYoung said. "So having this technology that's highly visible out on the beach while we're working invites people to come in and discuss what we're doing and then we can have those types of conversations that are required to have long-term solutions." Pollution Probe first launched its initiative to remove plastic from the Great Lakes — called The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup — in 2020 alongside the Council of the Great Lakes Region. DeYoung said the group had previously piloted the BeBot in the United States and was looking to find partners to bring it to Canada, leading to its collaboration with the Ontario government and Unsmoke Canada. Andrew Dowie, parliamentary assistant to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, said the Ontario government has provided almost $1 million to Pollution Probe's efforts to tackle plastic pollution around the Great Lakes since 2021.
National Post
24-06-2025
- Science
- National Post
Canada's first beach-cleaning robot is coming to Ontario parks this summer
SUTTON WEST, Ont. — Don't be alarmed if you see a Zamboni-like rover roaming Ontario's shores this summer — it's a beach-cleaning robot being tested in some provincial parks. The robot, called a BeBot, is a remotely operated and fully electric machine that removes plastic, glass, metal, paper and other debris from beaches with sand-sifting technology. Article content Article content 'This technology allows us to capture some of the larger pieces of plastic before they actually enter the water,' said Melissa DeYoung, CEO of environmental organization Pollution Probe, which launched the BeBot in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Article content Article content DeYoung said it is 'critically important' to remove litter and plastics before they enter lakes since they commonly break down into microplastics that can impact wildlife in the water. Article content Article content 'We'll never be able to remove all of the plastic that's found in the environment, but what we can do is collect data on the types of plastic we're finding and then we have a very good sense of what the sources might be and where that plastic might be coming from,' said DeYoung. Article content The BeBot can clean up to 3,000 square metres per hour for up to eight hours and can remove the equivalent of around 19 bowling balls worth of plastic in one use, said DeYoung. The robot is battery-powered with a solar panel on the back and has a top speed of just below three kilometres per hour. The BeBot began its litter-cleaning work on the shores of Lake Simcoe at Sibbald Point Provincial Park this week, and will make its way to Inverhuron Provincial Park on Lake Huron in the next month. Article content Then, it will head to Lake Erie's Long Point Provincial Park in late July and August, and Sandbanks Provincial Park and Darlington Provincial Park on Lake Ontario near the end of the summer. Article content Article content While removing litter is its main job, DeYoung said the robot's tour across the province also aims to encourage people to reduce waste. Article content Article content 'Sometimes people think we don't have an issue because they can't spot that plastic in the water,' DeYoung said. 'So having this technology that's highly visible out on the beach while we're working invites people to come in and discuss what we're doing, and then we can have those types of conversations that are required to have long-term solutions.' Article content Pollution Probe first launched its initiative to remove plastic from the Great Lakes — called The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup — in 2020 alongside the Council of the Great Lakes Region. Article content DeYoung said the group had previously piloted the BeBot in the United States and was looking to find partners to bring it to Canada, leading to its collaboration with the Ontario government and Unsmoke Canada. Article content Andrew Dowie, parliamentary assistant to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, said the Ontario government has provided almost $1 million to Pollution Probe's efforts to tackle plastic pollution around the Great Lakes since 2021. Article content The beach-cleaning robot will join more than 160 plastic capturing technologies already in use by Pollution Probe, DeYoung said. Article content
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Canada's first beach cleaning robot is coming to Ontario's parks this summer
SUTTON WEST — Don't be alarmed if you see a Zamboni-like rover roaming Ontario's shores this summer – it's a beach cleaning robot being tested in some provincial parks. The robot, called a BeBot, is a remotely operated and fully electric machine that removes plastic, glass, metal, paper and other debris from beaches with sand-sifting technology. 'This technology allows us to capture some of the larger pieces of plastic before they actually enter the water,' said Melissa DeYoung, CEO of environmental organization Pollution Probe, which launched the BeBot in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. DeYoung said it is 'critically important' to remove litter and plastic before they enters lakes since they commonly break down into microplastics that can impact wildlife in the water. 'We'll never be able to remove all of the plastic that's found in the environment, but what we can do is collect data on the types of plastic we're finding and then we have a very good sense of what the sources might be and where that plastic might be coming from,' said DeYoung. The BeBot can clean up to 3,000 square metres per hour for up to eight hours and can remove the equivalent of around 19 bowling balls worth of plastic in one use, said DeYoung. The robot is battery-powered with a solar panel on the back and has a top speed of just below three kilometres per hour. The BeBot began its litter-cleaning work on the shores of Lake Simcoe at Sibbald Point Provincial Park this week, and will make its way to Inverhuron Provincial Park on Lake Huron in the next month. Then, it will head to Lake Erie's Long Point Provincial Park in late July and August, and Sandbanks Provincial Park and Darlington Provincial Park on Lake Ontario near the end of the summer. While removing litter is its main job, DeYoung said the robot's tour across the province also aims to encourage people to reduce waste. 'Sometimes people think we don't have an issue because they can't spot that plastic in the water,' DeYoung said. 'So having this technology that's highly visible out on the beach while we're working invites people to come in and discuss what we're doing and then we can have those types of conversations that are required to have long-term solutions.' Pollution Probe first launched its initiative to remove plastic from the Great Lakes – called The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup – in 2020 alongside the Council of the Great Lakes Region. DeYoung said the group had previously piloted the BeBot in the United States and was looking to find partners to bring it to Canada, leading to its collaboration with the Ontario government and Unsmoke Canada. Andrew Dowie, parliamentary assistant to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, said the Ontario government has provided almost $1 million to Pollution Probe's efforts to tackle plastic pollution around the Great Lakes since 2021. The beach cleaning robot will join more than 160 plastic capturing technologies already in use by Pollution Probe, DeYoung said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025. Vanessa Tiberio, The Canadian Press Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Beaches left with 'heartbreaking' amounts of litter after hottest day of the year
The UK's beaches were left covered with 'heartbreaking' levels of litter after thousands flocked to the seaside during the weekend heatwave. The hottest day of the year so far of 33.2C was recorded on Saturday afternoon in Charlwood, Surrey, and those kind of temperatures brought huge numbers to the country's beaches. Sadly, the sheer multitude of visitors brought the problem of littering, with many reports of rubbish strewn across the sands including broken bottles, discarded food, used nappies - and even a child's mattress. One of the worst affected was Brighton beach in East Sussex, where thousands flocked over the weekend. But one resident and litter picker, Sammie Alpin, 33, said she was left "heartbroken" by the rubbish left on the sea front on Saturday. She posted video and images on her @the_plastic_coast Instagram account showing the state of the beach. They showed bins overflowing with rubbish on to the beach and seagulls picking their way through litter and plastic bags. Plastic bottles, drinks cans, rubber dinghies, flip-flops and even an insulin pen were left abandoned along the pebbles. "What are we teaching the kids of today?" asked Alpin, who makes art from beach litter, in her video, saying that she was left "heartbroken and overwhelmed" by the rubbish. "I knew it would be bad today but it's still heartbreaking every time it happens," she said. "Brighton and Hove have hundreds of bins along the seafront, people just can't be bothered to carry back their rubbish." Her video received a number of comments from angry users, with one saying: "I used to think this was down to a lack of awareness, but it's not an excuse any more. "It's a lazy, selfish act of entitlement. People who just assume someone else will sort it out." Another said: "It's quite embarrassing actually, that this is how the British general public act when the sun comes out. "Every summer it gets like this and every summer I question my choice to live in this city." One user said the situation was similar at Bournemouth beach in Dorset. They said: "Same here in Bournemouth... tourists in their thousands come to our beaches and leave a complete mess behind." Pictures from Bournemouth showed rubbish all along the sea front and overflowing bins. Tom Hayes, the MP for Bournemouth East, posted on X: "Absolutely shocking. We all need to take responsibility for our own litter, but that means there should be more bins — and more frequent collections — during busy summer months. Absolutely shocking 😞 We all need to take responsibility for our own litter, but that means there should be more bins—and more frequent collections—during busy summer months. I've previously written to BCP Council about bins on the beach. It shouldn't be this hard to keep our… — Tom Hayes MP (@TomHayesBmouth) June 22, 2025 "It shouldn't be this hard to keep our beautiful town clean!" Retired Gill Nicholson, 70, said she saw used nappies, broken bottles, rubbish and even an abandoned cot mattress while walking her dog early in the morning near the beach in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. While she said local street cleaners did a good job in cleaning the mess up by the following day, workers nonetheless "have their work cut out". She told Yahoo News UK: "I feel so sorry for the street cleaners. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any enforcement of laws regarding littering throughout the UK. "We live in a wonderful place and we need to protect it." In Wales, visitors to Sandy Bay in Porthcawl on Friday were greeted with lots of litter across the beach, the Valley Times Facebook page reported. On Saturday evening, RNLI Lifeguards Lincolnshire said they were "disappointed" at the litter left on Skegness beach that day, and posted images of the rubbish. In Folkestone, Kent, Facebook user Kathie Peel posted images of litter in the water along the beach. She said: "People who have visited sunny sands today and 'forgotten' to take their rubbish home with them should be ashamed! All along the beach rubbish and dirty nappies in the sea. Absolutely disgusting." Andrea Butcher posted an image on Friday of a rug and other litter left on Formby beach near Liverpool, writing: Free carpet on the beach. I hope today's visitors enjoy sitting in the litter which was left by yesterday's visitors. Perhaps it'll highlight the need to take their rubbish home? Probably not." In March, a report by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) revealed that the amount of plastic rubbish found on UK beaches had increased by 9.5% from 2023 to 2024. It said more than 15,000 volunteers picked up a combine three quarters of a million pieces of litter last year, an average of 170 items per 100m of beach surveyed. It said the most common items were plastic fragments, followed by single-use plastic packaging such as crips packets and sandwich wrappers. The MSC said plastic pollution "remains a huge problem for our marine environment". Plastic items can take hundreds of years to break down and can choke marine animals, with contaminants making wildlife less resilient to the impacts of climate change. The MSC said plastic in the ocean has a "devastating effect" on marine wildlife, as fish, seabirds, sea turtles and mammals can ingest or become entangled in plastic, which causes suffocation, starvation and drowning. It said plastic kills about one million seabirds every year.
