07/19/2026
A Swedish startup called Corvid Cleaning has found a clever way to clean up city streets by teaming up with wild crows.
Instead of paying human crews to pick up small pieces of trash, the company uses a custom vending machine that rewards wild crows with peanuts whenever they drop a cigarette butt into a collection slot.
Cigarette butts are the most common type of litter found on Sweden's streets. By using technology to work alongside nature, this project could save cities a lot of money on cleaning bills.
Natural Problem Solvers
The most amazing part of the project is that the crows did not need long, human-led training sessions. Because corvids (the bird family that includes crows, ravens, and magpies) are among the smartest animals on Earth, they learned how to use the machine simply by watching each other and experimenting.
Scientists have known for years that crows are highly intelligent. They can use tools, remember human faces, and solve multi-step puzzles to get food. In this project, the machine records every single piece of trash the birds bring in. The counter has already passed 124 cigarette butts, showing that wild birds are completely willing to help clean up the environment in exchange for a few healthy treats.
