Robotic Waste Sorting

According to Phys Org, Only 5-6% of the 46 million tons of plastic waste generated annually in the U.S. gets recycled.

This waste is then handed off to our nation’s 600-plus recycling facilities, which handle ~67 million tons of waste. This process is labor intensive, unsanitary, and waste-forward.

However, recycling may not be so doom and gloom for much longer. Robotic waste sorting can help reverse some of these negative trends.

With computer vision and deep learning algorithms integrated with robotic technology, robot sorters can identify and separate different types of trash.

Proper sorting leads to less trash in the landfill. Alongside the climate benefits of properly recycling our waste, these robots are also economically viable and are helping improve working conditions.

According to Forbes, just two employees could cost a recycling facility at least $70,000 a year, meaning these robots could be completely paid off within three to four years. They robots also help mitigate some of the inglorious working conditions in these plants.

Many companies like Amp robotics, Grey Parrot, Waste Robotics, Recycleye, ZenRobotics, Smarter Sorting, Everest Labs, etc., are at the forefront of reenvisioning our world’s recycling inefficiencies.