Eunpyeong-gu Pilots AI-Based Bulky Waste Disposal App 'Gajyeoga'

What happened

Eunpyeong-gu, a district in Seoul, is running a pilot of an AI app for disposing of large household waste. The app is called '가져가', which means 'take it away'. A resident takes a photo of an item with a smartphone. The AI identifies the item, then guides the user through the fee, payment, and pickup request. No separate sign-up is needed, and users can log in with simple verification. The district says this is the first service of its kind in the country.

Key numbers

• The district handles about 220,000 pickup requests a year.
• About 29% of them, roughly 65,000, are made in person at local community centers.
• The AI can identify more than 156 types of large waste.
• The district expects the reporting process to drop from up to 20 minutes to about 1 minute.
• The pilot runs until the end of December.

Why the app was built

Large waste pickups often went wrong when people picked the wrong item type or size when filling out online forms. This caused pickup delays and repeat requests. The AI looks at the item's location, shape, and material to pick the right category, which should cut these mistakes.

Why it matters

The app shows how AI can make everyday government services easier. Faster, more accurate requests can mean fewer delays for residents and less work for pickup crews. The district says it wants to use digital tools more widely to make daily life easier for residents.

What to watch

• Whether the app cuts the number of wrong or repeat requests during the pilot.
• Whether the time to submit a request really falls to about 1 minute.
• Whether the service expands to other districts after the pilot ends in December.
• How pickup crews use the photos and route information in practice.