As Memorial Day signals the start of summer vacation in Michigan, beachgoers may encounter more than just sand—pounds of discarded plastics and trash litter the shores.

To combat this issue, some Michigan communities have turned to innovative solutions, employing robots for cleanup efforts.

Remote-controlled “BeBots” have been utilized on various Michigan beaches in recent years, with the latest deployment set for Belle Isle beach in Detroit.

Scheduled for June 8, World Ocean Day, the BeBot will join volunteers to clear plastic and debris, with cleanups continuing as needed through September, Bridge Michigan reported.

The nearly 1,300-pound BeBot, provided by French coastal-waste management company Searial Cleaners, operates on electric and solar power, capable of cleaning 32,000 square feet per hour.

Collaboration between the City of Detroit, Belle Isle Conservancy, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Council of the Great Lakes Region Foundation facilitated the BeBot’s arrival on Belle Isle.

Written by B.C. Begley