It seemed like a good idea at the time. Build robotic raccoons the size of garbage trucks that function -as- garbage trucks. Built-in chemical digesters both process the trash and provide much of the operating power, allowing a truck-coon to operate all night and return to base with the indigestibles -- largely recyclable metal - stored in its belly.

When they programmed them, it seemed intuitive to give them the scavenging habits of real raccoons. They failed to consider how very omnivorous the procyonids are. It didn't take long before there was more than garbage on the menu. Stray dogs, entire cars (occupied or not), homeless people...it was not a good start for the program.