An innovative chatbot has been launched to give north Londoners round-the-clock support on all things waste and recycling.
Powered by AI, the new feature on the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) website allows residents to get instant answers to their questions about north London’s eight reuse and recycling centres, its waste prevention initiatives and the correct disposal of items.
The tool seems to be a hit with residents, answering an average of 350 questions per month since launching in November – how to recycle lithium batteries, dispose of a suitcase or book a school tour are just a few examples.
Created in collaboration with digital agency Resource Media, the chatbot was designed using a year's worth of resident enquiries and their answers. It is also powered by a comprehensive database of information, including from NLWA’s popular A-Z search of materials.
Councillor Clyde Loakes, NLWA Chair, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to get the information they need to preserve resources and protect the environment.
“Through our services, we provide reuse and recycling options for as many materials as possible. The chatbot makes this information readily available to residents. Reducing the amount of routine email enquiries we receive also frees up time for the NLWA team to deliver crucial waste prevention projects.
“We’re committed to finding new and creative ways to support the circular economy, including investigating other technologies and using feedback to further enhance our digital offering.”
The chatbot can be accessed from any page on the NLWA website, nlwa.gov.uk. You can read more about the history and work of NLWA on our About us page.