City of Dallas to use AI-enabled cameras on brush trucks to combat illegal dumping and improve trash collection services

Dallas, Texas – The Dallas City Council has approved the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI)–powered cameras on brush and bulky trash collection trucks, marking a major step forward in the city’s push for smarter sanitation and stronger neighborhood safety. With this move, Dallas becomes the largest city in the country to implement this type of technology.

As part of the new system, AI-enabled side-mounted cameras will be installed on sanitation trucks. These cameras will periodically capture still images of the curb line from the public right-of-way. To ensure privacy, any faces and license plates captured in the images will be automatically blurred. The photos will then be analyzed through computer vision technology to detect things like debris piles, illegal dumping, and participation in scheduled bulk trash pickups.

“This innovative technology delivers responsive solutions that all our residents deserve to keep our neighborhoods clean and safe,” said City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “It is a smart-city approach to an everyday challenge.”

Supporting efficiency and targeted enforcement

City departments expect this new system to significantly improve how Dallas handles sanitation and code enforcement. For the Dallas Sanitation Department, the data collected from the cameras will help optimize routes, reduce wasted mileage, and align staffing better with actual service demand. Meanwhile, for the Code Compliance Department, the system will allow inspectors to focus on locations with confirmed issues rather than spending time patrolling in search of violations.

The three-year contract for the AI camera program is valued at approximately $2,556,000. This cost covers camera purchase, installation, maintenance, warranty, and replacement services. The investment is subject to annual appropriations by the City Council.

The deployment of the cameras is expected to be completed by spring of 2026.

This move reflects Dallas’s continued investment in becoming a data-driven city that uses technology to address real-world concerns, especially around waste management, public health, and community appearance. City leaders believe the approach will not only deter illegal dumping but also strengthen Dallas’s broader goals of neighborhood revitalization and operational transparency.