MUSKEGON: Millions of pounds of plastics are estimated to enter the Great Lakes every year and now two types of drones will be deployed to combat the growing problem.

A pair of eco-friendly drones or “litter bots” made their Michigan debut in Muskegon on Tuesday, Aug. 23, where the “PixieDrone” and “BeBot” trundled through the water and the sand gathering plastic debris that has become endemic in the Great Lakes.

The solar and battery powered robots can be operated with a remote control or on an auto pilot mode with a predetermined geofenced course.

The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), a binational nonprofit focused on economic development and environmental protection, is trying to reduce plastic waste in the region through partnerships with companies like Meijer, which put US$1 million toward their initial deployment.

The high-tech skimmers are designed to remove bottle caps, cigarette butts, straws, cups, bottles and other manmade detritus in the water and sand. BeBot can sift through about 32,000 square feet of sand per hour and each PixieDrone can collect up to 200 pounds (90.7kg) of trash before it needs to be emptied.

“The Great Lakes basin is the largest freshwater system in the world. Keeping this vital water resource clan and free of litter is essential,” said Lora Shrake the Senior Program Director for Business and Sustainability at CGLR.

Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon will operate and maintain the local devices using part of the Meijer grant.

Devices are initially coming to public beaches this year in Traverse City as well as Manitowoc and Sheboygan in Wisconsin and Cleveland in Ohio.

 - TNS