EverestLabs, an innovative AI robotics startup, is reclaiming recyclables like aluminum and plastics. It uses artificial intelligence and high-precision robots to sort these valuables, increasing the efficiency and output of American recycling centers and reducing landfill waste.
The Founder of EverestLabs, JD Ambati, attributes inefficiencies in recycling centers to outdated technologies. These inefficiencies result in incorrect designations of recyclable materials, leading to unnecessary waste in landfills. Ambati sees solutions in technology, specifically artificial intelligence and machine learning, which can intelligently sort materials, reducing waste and increasing efficiency and profitability.
The US has a lower-than-desired recycling rate, and the public often misdisposes (puts in the wrong bin or garbage pile) recyclable items, so EverestLabs’ contribution is significant. In response to these challenges, EverestLabs recommends steps, including awareness campaigns, fortifying recycling infrastructure, and revising policies to strengthen the recycling culture nationwide.
With its advanced sorting system featuring 3D cameras, EverestLabs can identify recyclable items in the final stages of the recycling process. Implemented on recycling center conveyor belts, the system can stop a million aluminum cans from becoming landfills.
Improving waste management through AI technology
The system also recognizes plastics, saving nearly 7,000 tons yearly from incorrect disposal. Ongoing development aims to also identify paper and glass, promising meaningful progress in waste management.
Ambati stresses that resources like aluminum can be endlessly recycled, and plastic recycling is beneficial for manufacturers, consumers, and the environment. In the case of aluminum cans, he points out, careless disposal leads to unnecessary waste.
Finally, Ambati highlights a trend in the waste industry to find value in AI technologies for waste segregation and management. Adopting such technologies can lower operational costs and improve the quality of recycled materials. As he asserts, this could transform the industry, making recycling more efficient and environmentally friendly.
