Virtually every industry, especially in the next decade, will need to address the proliferation of automation. More industries than ever are adopting automated technologies due to their many benefits, such as improved operational efficiency and higher employee productivity.
The recycling industry is in dire need of new technologies, and automated tech is no exception. The amount of waste generated globally is skyrocketing, yet recycling is still grossly misunderstood and ineffective. Could automated solutions fix today’s common recycling pain points?
The State of Recycling in 2023
To understand the state of recycling today, it’s important to understand just how much waste is generated every day. According to Statista, worldwide municipal solid waste (MSW) generation will increase by 70% by 2050, reaching around 3.4 billion metric tons. There are no signs of waste generation slowing down, meaning now is a critical time for companies to explore potential solutions to the global recycling problem.
A recent report found that only 5%-6% of plastic waste is recycled in the U.S. Why are recycling figures so low? Isn’t plastic easy to recycle? It seems as though there are no single answers to these questions.
Unfortunately, plastic and other materials often end up in landfills or the environment, which can have harmful effects on wildlife and even public health. It’s clear that the recycling industry is in need of a revamp, especially if the nation is to reach its climate goals in the upcoming decades.
The Role of Automation in Recycling
Automation can play an increasingly important role in the recycling industry for a few reasons.
If an industry is suffering from labor shortages, automated technologies such as robotics systems using computer vision (CV) can come in handy. These machines can “see,” which means they can be implemented in recycling facilities to sort through waste and determine whether items are fit for recycling.
In certain parts of the world, like India and China, workers will sort through hazardous e-waste using methods like acid baths and open-air burning techniques. Their goal is to find usable components from e-waste, but these methods are toxic and can lead to long-term health issues.
Automated recycling solutions can take over these risky tasks, preventing workers from being exposed to toxins or hazardous chemicals. With the rising number of electronics and vehicles using lithium-ion batteries, these situations will only become more commonplace if there are no feasible solutions.
These scenarios only represent a few ways automation can improve the recycling industry. Smart waste management is something many cities are trying to incorporate into their operations. While this will take time, it’s easy to see that these are positive, much-needed changes.
How Automated Recycling Can Reduce Waste
As the amount of waste around the world increases, there must be better, smarter solutions to recycle and properly dispose of this waste.
Consider AMP Robotics – this company is using robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve major challenges in the recycling business. For example, employee turnover is common, but smart robotics can fill in the gaps and help businesses overcome this challenge.
According to Matanya Horowitz, founder and CEO of AMP Robotics, the team uses a unique approach to recycling. The company teaches an AI model how to identify all different materials in waste. The system can distinguish bottles from cans and even identify if waste has leftover food particles, which would render it unrecyclable. Recycling centers can smoothly incorporate these technologies into their operations.
When robotics can sort through waste more efficiently and effectively, it reduces the amount of waste entering landfills, polluting the environment and harming surrounding ecosystems.
Automation: The Next Frontier in Recycling
The recycling industry is not living up to its true potential. Much of the waste generated in the world is not disposed of properly, leading to negative impacts on public health and the environment.
In the Industry 4.0 era, it’s imperative that recycling centers and companies figure out how to implement automated solutions to overcome their most common challenges. Automation will impact the recycling industry and early adopters will see the major improvements it makes to current recycling practices.
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