Monday, 19 May 2025

Stop sorting your garbage with this new technology

Recycling robots are using artificial intelligence to learn how to sort recyclables by recognizing patterns in colors, textures, shapes and logos.


Stop sorting your garbage with this new technology

Ever wondered what happens to the recyclables you carefully sort and place in your bin? 

For years, recycling has been a crucial part of our efforts to reduce waste and protect the environment. However, the recycling industry has faced significant challenges, from rising costs to labor shortages. 

AMP's systems not only enhance sorting speed but also reduce contamination, a critical issue in recycling that affects the quality of materials that can be reused. AMP's founder, Matanya Horowitz, highlights the stagnation of U.S. recycling rates and notes that AMP's technology is designed to recover more materials and optimize waste operations. 

The recycling industry faces significant challenges, including rising costs, stricter contamination standards and labor shortages. AMP's robots work around the clock, eliminating the need for manual sorting and addressing workforce challenges.

With over 400 AI systems deployed worldwide, the company is scaling its impact globally. This technology could transform your local recycling center, making it more efficient and effective. In addition to sorting, AMP's technology contributes to broader goals, like extending landfill life and diverting organic waste. It also supports municipalities and waste companies by lowering operational costs and capturing more material value.

AMP Robotics is not alone in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to transform waste management. Across Europe and the U.K., companies like Greyparrot and Recycleye are deploying innovative AI technologies to improve sorting efficiency and reduce contamination in recycling centers.

Greyparrot's AI-powered waste analytics use cameras and machine learning to monitor waste streams in real time, providing detailed insights into material composition. This helps centers maximize resource recovery and supports the transition to a circular economy. 

Similarly, Recycleye employs robotic arms equipped with AI to automate sorting processes, increasing the purity of recovered materials and boosting productivity. These advancements are also encouraging manufacturers to redesign packaging for easier recycling.

AI applications extend far beyond sorting lines. For instance, WestRock is leveraging AI to design sustainable packaging that replaces plastics with fiber-based alternatives. Their innovations include creating packaging resistant to water and grease while maintaining recyclability, helping brands transition to more eco-friendly solutions. Municipalities are also adopting AI-driven recycling systems, such as Tasmania's $24 million materials recovery site, which processes recyclables from thousands of households using advanced AI sorting systems.

In metals recycling, AI is being used to predict market trends by analyzing large volumes of data on prices, supply, demand and trade patterns. This allows recyclers to optimize inventory management and production based on anticipated demand for specific metals. Together, these efforts illustrate how artificial intelligence is reshaping waste management globally, making recycling more efficient, sustainable and impactful.

The impact of AI-powered recycling could be profound for your community. By making recycling faster, smarter and more efficient, innovations like AMP's offer hope for a more sustainable future. As recycling becomes more effective, it could inspire changes in how we consume and dispose of waste, ultimately making a tangible difference in the environment around us.

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