Greyparrot, a U.K.-based startup, is revolutionizing global recycling with its AI-powered computer vision technology that identifies and sorts waste in real-time, enhancing efficiency, preventing hazards, and partnering with major industry players to expand its innovative solutions. (Source: Image by RR)

Greyparrot’s AI Scans Billions of Waste Items, Helping Divert Tons From Landfills

Greyparrot, a U.K.-based startup founded in 2019, is leveraging AI and computer vision technology to enhance the efficiency of material recovery facilities (MRFs) around the world by identifying waste on conveyor belts in real-time. This technology helps operators sort recyclables like metals and plastics more accurately, detect hazardous items such as batteries that could cause fires, and even integrate with robotic sorting tools to improve precision. Greyparrot’s system has already made significant impacts, scanning over 25 billion waste objects in 2023 and diverting millions of tons of waste from landfills and incinerators.

After spending the initial two years fine-tuning its machine learning models, Greyparrot’s technology can now recognize 89 different categories of waste, estimate item mass and value, and identify brand-specific packaging. As reported in fastcompany.com, the system provides detailed analytics and real-time alerts to help plant managers optimize their processes and handle quality control issues swiftly. On Tuesday, Greyparrot introduced a new version of its Greyparrot Analyzer hardware, featuring a more eco-friendly design, an updated LED lighting system, and a GPU that consumes 50 watts less power than previous models.

The startup has garnered financial backing from Build Collective, led by Tony Fadell, known as “the father of the iPod” and an advocate for waste management solutions. Fadell emphasized that improving MRFs with Greyparrot’s technology not only aids recycling efforts but is also financially beneficial for the facilities, incentivizing them to adopt this innovative system. Greyparrot’s aesthetically designed hardware units were inspired by consumer product design to appeal visually to potential buyers, setting them apart from traditional industrial equipment.

Greyparrot’s influence has expanded internationally, with partnerships like those with Van Dyk Recycling Solutions to bring its systems to North American facilities and Bollegraaf in Europe, where Greyparrot acquired Bollegraaf’s computer vision business and secured an investment. The startup is pioneering a major shift in the recycling industry, turning data and AI-driven decision-making into a standard where little to no digitization previously existed, marking a substantial advancement for MRFs and waste management.

read more at fastcompany.com