Artificial intelligence may be the answer to upgrading the waste management process, including recycling.
Think of a typical sortation line in a recycling facility. While there may be sensors and automation in place, a lot of the workflow depends on people standing next to a conveyor belt moving individual items.
"We've had automation for a long time, but artificial intelligence takes it a step further," Sustainable Plastics Editor Karen Laird said during the April 2 Sustainable Plastics Live webcast with PN Editor Don Loepp. "It's no longer machines that are automatic, but machines that can make decisions and learn things.
"It's exciting to think there are systems out there that you can teach shapes or different materials," she added. "You know what recyclers always say: Garbage in makes garbage out. Too much contamination and it won't be high-quality recycled resin. The better the sorting, the better the end product."
AI systems for recycling are "just on the horizon" now, she noted. "It's not happening fast, but I suspect it will gain momentum as it becomes widespread."
PN subscribers can watch the full discussion here.