# Practical Approach for Smart and Circular Cities: Chatbots Used in Waste Recycling
## 4 An Analysis of Five Representative Chatbots That Support the CE
### Chatbots' Comparison  
In this comparative examination, we evaluate and compare various recycling chatbots using a selection of fundamental benchmarks. These benchmarks encompass the technological functionalities, elements of the user interface, and security protocols crucial for gauging the efficiency and dependability of these chatbot systems. These criteria include the following:  
* Natural Language Processing (NLP): the ability of the chatbot to understand and respond to user queries in natural language, ensuring efficient communication and user engagement. * Image Processing Capabilities: the chatbot's ability to process and interpret images related to recycling queries facilitates enhanced user interaction and problem-solving. * Provision of Relevant Information: the capacity of the chatbot to provide accurate and relevant information about recycling practices, regulations, and environmental initiatives. * Integrated Questionnaire: whether the chatbot incorporates a structured questionnaire to gather user preferences, habits, or requirements, thus personalizing the user experience and recommendations. * Human Agent Redirection: the mechanism employed by the chatbot to redirect users to human agents or customer support representatives in cases where the query cannot be adequately addressed through automated responses. * POI (Point of Interest) Location Assistance: the chatbot's ability to assist users in locating relevant points of interest (POIs), such as recycling centers, drop-off points, or sustainable product vendors, using interactive maps or geolocation services. * Security and Privacy: the measures implemented by the chatbot platform to ensure the security and privacy of user data, including data encryption, compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR), and transparent data handling policies. This comparative analysis (see Table 1) aims to provide information on their strengths, limitations, and general suitability to promote recycling awareness and participation among  
Figure 5: SCC Chatbot logo. users by systematically evaluating these criteria in different recycling chatbots. The necessary information was retrieved from the chatbots' descriptions on their websites. Following the comparative analysis of different recycling chatbots, it becomes evident that these platforms stand out through distinct approaches to addressing waste management challenges. When it comes to natural language processing, information providing, and security and privacy, all of the chatbots showcase remarkable proficiency in NLP, ensuring accurate understanding and effective construction of responses to user queries. They also excel in providing up-to-date information across relevant topics and prioritize user security and privacy, safeguarding against malicious actions. Regarding the platforms that the chatbots can be integrated into, 1 MillionBot is more versatile compared to the others, as it can be incorporated into multiple applications according to the user's needs. SCC Chatbot, because it represents a local council initiative (Midlands), is integrated into a call center specific to the council, from where it can respond to citizens' queries about waste management and rubbish bin collections, offloading some of the staff's work to the chatbot. No Waste Ukraine and GOA Chatbot are integrated into popular messenger applications, making them available to as many people as possible (unlike SCC; those two are larger-scale projects). GOA Chatbot distinguishes itself with its robust image processing capabilities, enabling users to submit photos of plastic waste, thereby enriching the depth of the data collected. This feature sets it apart from other chatbots in terms of its data collection capabilities. With regard to questionnaire integration, 1 MillionBot and LitterBot distinguish themselves by integrating questionnaires and providing a personalized experience to users.