Recycling Rethink: How AI Is Now Making Its Mark in The Space

Regular visitors to our site will know how artificial intelligence is affecting a diverse range of areas right now. From the automotive industry to the education sector, the technological innovations it's driving are causing real change and opening up new possibilities in many ways.

However, it is particularly intriguing to see how it is affecting our efforts to go green. Making more sustainable choices and embracing recycling are at the top of many agendas these days, as both businesses and households are keen to reuse items and be more environmentally friendly in everything they do.

But, did you know that AI technology is now having an influence in that domain and changing the game when it comes to the recycling revolution?

Making headlines

The issues are certainly something that many of us are aware of right now. We are often reminded of the importance of having a healthy attitude to such matters, as well as how we can make little changes to go greener.

For instance, brands like this one have taken the step of launching special campaigns all about repairing and reusing items around the home. The emphasis has been placed on saying no to waste, with each 'saved' object being one less item sent to landfill. It also pinpoints specific household goods that can be repaired with glue, from shoes to vases and plant pots.

Against this backdrop, it might be difficult to identify how AI can help with recycling. However, to consider this issue we need to move away from those smaller wins in the home and think on a wider scale. The concept's impact on recycling has been making headlines recently, with Imperial College London recently revealing how two former students had been recognised by the European Patent Office for their AI-recycling technology. Victor Dewulf and Peter Hedley won the Young Inventors prize for a sorting system that helps organizations quickly separate rubbish. The system is now in use through their business Recycleye.

Growing partnership

AMP Robotics also looks at the use of AI and robotics in the waste industry and it recently expanded its partnership with the integrated solid waste services company Waste Connections, which works across both the US and Canada.

Source: Pixabay

The latter has either booked or deployed 50 of AMP's systems on plastic, fiber, and residue lines, with the technology identifying and recovering a range of items for raw material processing. These include the likes of plastics, cardboard, paper, and cartons. According to AMP, "AI-driven sorting" is helping recycling organizations meet the demand for high-quality recycled content from different brands and packaging producers.

The technology can also examine different forms of material and separate it into specific types as well. For instance, AMP discusses how it can recover plastic based on a range of factors, as well as issues including color and opacities. It adds that the likes of PET and HDPE account for a large amount of recycled plastic demand.

Fascinating future

Recycling is a major issue across the world, so it makes sense that AI experts have assessed how technology can be harnessed to support efforts in that domain. Waste may not necessarily be the first area you think of when it comes to new technology, but it clearly has a big role to play going forward.
The concepts highlighted above are just two examples of the work being done in the space, so it will be interesting to see how matters develop in the months and years ahead. AI is transforming how we do so many things and it looks set to be crucial as we plot a course for a more sustainable future.