Artificial intelligence’s role in the future of waste management

Artificial intelligence got a lot of attention in 2023.

We saw the rise of tools like Chat GPT and strikes over how the technology could impact creative industries.

In fact, the technology has been such a hot topic that Collins named “AI” as its word of the year for 2023.

But while controversies were grabbing headlines, developments in waste management AI came on in leaps and bounds.

Artificial intelligence has been hard at work making waste management smarter and more efficient – and in more ways than one…

Sorting waste with AI

Currently, waste is sorted by manual and mechanical processes.

For example, at SunSkips, site operatives pick rubbish by hand, identifying pieces of waste that can be reused, recycled or recovered.

Waste then goes through a mechanical screening line to sift out metals, soft plastics and fines (small particles that can be cleaned and used as aggregate).

MORE: How SunSkips’ recycling screening line works

While this process is a valuable part of the circular economy, there are some hidden dangers with current waste sorting methods.

Batteries in devices like disposable vapes can get caught in the mechanisms and ignite, putting the lives of site workers at risk. At best, it causes damage to the expensive recycling equipment.

Enter AI, which is taking on the challenge of scanning waste and flagging anything dangerous in the mix.

UK start-up Greyparrot has developed an AI system that places cameras above conveyor belts at recycling facilities to analyse waste in real-time.

“In a single day, you will have literally mountains of waste in one facility coming through, and what’s very shocking and surprising is that it never stops,” explained company founder Mikela Druckman. “There are no holidays for waste, it just keeps coming.”

The company scans 32 billion items of waste a year, building an enormous database for the technology to train against.

“It is allowing regulators to have a much better understanding of what’s happening with the material, what materials are problematic, and it is also influencing packaging design,” Druckman added.

Greyparrot hopes manufacturers will use data gathered by the firm to design better packaging and products that aren’t as harmful to the environment.

AI and robotics working together

The future of AI in waste management could see robots acting on the analysis of AI scanners to sort the waste, including separating electronic devices into their reusable parts.

AMP Robotics Corp has developed a system that “uses the same sort of logic and perception as a human being”.

Plastics, paper, glass, construction material, electronics, organics and metal can all be correctly sorted without human intervention.

The vision system learns to identify 75 billion objects a year, and continues to develop its database. This data is fed to highly agile robots, which pick and sort the waste at a rate of 80 items per minute (twice the speed of a human picker).

Founder and CEO Matanya Horowitz says AMP Robotics’ mission is to help create a world without useless waste.

He said, “AMP Robotics was started with the idea that robotics and artificial intelligence can fundamentally change the economics of the recycling process.”

MORE: How technology is making waste management safe and efficient

AMP Robotics’ system is so sophisticated, it doesn’t only detect coffee cups, but it can also detect which coffee chain the cup came from.

Data like this can point the finger of blame directly at the manufacturers that are generating high volumes of waste in the first place.

Smart bins and AI

It’s not just the waste sorting and recycling plants that are being revolutionised by AI.

AI has extended its influence to the humble rubbish bin to optimise waste collection practices.

Waste collection vehicles equipped with AI algorithms analyse data collected from bin sensors to predict waste accumulation levels.

This data-driven approach enables waste management companies to strategize and optimise collection routes, reducing unnecessary trips, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions.

AI systems can even analyse historical data to accurately predict future waste generation rates.

Smart bins have already been trialled in Cambridge (where SunSkips operates its skip hire services) to sense waste levels in containers.

Similarly, TrashBot has come up with an AI smart bin with a single point of disposal that separates recyclables into different bins much like the recycling centre technology.

The company claims 95% accuracy, which would make the AI sorting even more streamlined once it reaches the main facility.

MORE: Smart bins: Is this the future of waste management?

AI in energy from waste

Energy from waste (EfW) plants are also benefiting from AI technology.

AI-controlled systems at EfW plants in London run by Suez (which also runs the EfW facility in Suffolk that SunSkips sends waste to) are already up and running to check the right kind of waste is going into the furnace.

Non-conforming waste can create blockages and bring plants to a standstill. But with the new AI system, surveillance cameras are quickly scanning waste as it’s poured in and alerting operators about any concerns.

Working with Group Digital and Deepomatic over a period of four months, 11 items that could have blocked the system were detected, making the plant more efficient and safe.

OPINION: Burning waste is eco-friendly, despite what activists say

AI waste education

Scouring the web to find out if Pringles cans are recyclable in your local authority is not something the busy working resident can easily find time for in their schedule.

But with chatbots that answer questions like this fast, consumers are able to leverage AI to learn exactly what to do with their waste.

In the future, these AI systems could integrate seamlessly into smart home devices, scanning barcodes or using image recognition to instantly provide information on disposal methods.

This technology is especially helpful for businesses and organisations with specialist waste flows, as the chatbot can provide personalised waste management plans. Chatbots can suggest alternative eco-friendly products or ways to reduce waste altogether.

AI could facilitate collaboration between businesses and governments on effective waste management practices.

By analysing vast amounts of data from different regions, AI could identify successful strategies and foster a global movement towards a more sustainable future.

Challenges with AI in waste management

As will all new technology, AI in waste management isn’t without its challenges.

AI-powered waste management systems are not infallible and still encounter difficulties in accurately sorting certain materials.

“A product like a Coke bottle, once it goes into the bin, will be crumpled, crushed and dirty, and makes the problem much more complex from an AI standpoint,” explained Druckman.

Of course, cost constraints impede widespread adoption of new AI waste management systems, but prices will only go down as the technology advances.

Despite the drawbacks, AI technology is undeniably a transformative force in waste management.

From improving sorting precision to optimising collection routes and converting waste into energy more efficiently, AI is contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

SunSkips is excited about the prospects AI is bringing to waste management and will continue to adopt new technologies that help make the business more efficient and sustainable.