AI4Waste: Fostering Awareness and Innovation in Adult Education

<< Background >>The AI4Waste project aimed to bring together an adult academy, 2 municipalities, and an IT company from Portugal, Spain and Turkey to collaborate on promoting awareness about artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in the field of waste management. The main motivation for developing the AI4Waste project were the following: 1. Addressing a Global Challenge; 2. Skill Development for Adults; 3. Promoting Environmental Sustainability; 4. Fostering Innovation; 5. International Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange; 6. Social Impact and Community Engagement; 7. Data-Driven Decision Making; 8. Preparing for the Future of Work. The needs addressed by AI4Waste project were as follows: i) Need to train adult technicians working in waste management across different sectors and adapt them to the needs of progressive integration of AI tools in the waste sector; ii) Need to create an innovative system for teaching AI applied to the waste sector; iii) Need to promote actions that support adult education for the environment and the fight against climate change; iv) Need to train adult technicians trainers on issues related to the use of AI tools in the waste sector; v) Need to reduce the gap in adult technicians' knowledge.<< Objectives >>The main objectives of the project were the following:• Raise Awareness: Increase knowledge and understanding of AI technologies and their potential applications in waste management.• Capacity Building: Enhance the skills of adult learners and professionals in the partnership through tailored training programs on AI and waste management.• Cross-Cultural Exchange: Facilitate the exchange of practices, experiences, and expertise among the project partners.• Broadcasting: Share project outcomes and results with a wider audience, to promote the adoption of AI in waste management.The main outcomes to be achieved with the implementation of AI4Waste project are as follows:i) A comprehensive training program on AI and its applications in waste management; ii) Organization of Onsite Training Program, with an audience of 8 participants, involving 2 participants per partners facilitated by experts in AI and waste management (5 days); iii) One AI4WASTE ToolBox with resources used in the training; iv) four AI4WasteTALKs Workshop (one per partner) to showcase the AI4WASTE ToolBox and lessons learned; v) A project website with an integrated online platform to share project updates, training materials, and resources.<< Implementation >>The AI4Waste project was implemented through four main activities. First, strong project coordination was ensured via monthly online meetings, a kick-off event in Portugal, and the establishment of a shared Teams workspace and communication tools. Second, a five-day onsite training programme in Türkiye was delivered, combining theoretical and practical sessions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to waste management. This training brought together 11 participants from all partner countries and covered topics like machine learning, AI-based policy, and national case studies, including technical site visits. Third, the AI4WASTE Toolbox was developed, compiling 99 curated resources—including case studies, educational materials, and implementation tools—tagged and organised across six categories to enhance accessibility. Fourth, dissemination activities were implemented through four AI4WasteTALKs workshops (Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and an online session), which gathered over 156 stakeholders. A multilingual website and promotional materials further supported visibility, while green practices and inclusive approaches guided the entire implementation.<< Results >>The AI4Waste project achieved several concrete and impactful results. A complete training programme on AI in waste management was developed and delivered during a five-day onsite course in Türkiye, involving 11 participants from Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye. This programme covered theoretical knowledge, real-world applications, and site visits to waste facilities. A key output was the AI4WASTE Toolbox, a digital resource platform containing 99 curated resources, structured into 23 thematic tags and 6 categories, including case studies, educational content, and best practices. Over 500 technicians and a total of 69 associations were reached through dissemination efforts. Four AI4WasteTALKs workshops were conducted (Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and online), engaging 156 participants and fostering cross-border exchange. The project also produced a multilingual website, visual identity materials, and a brochure to ensure visibility and accessibility. These results directly supported the project’s goals of capacity building, awareness raising, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability in adult education and waste management sectors.