Penn Waste debuts AI recycling robots
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Photo: Courtesy of Glacier
A Pennsylvania waste management company will start using AI-powered robots to sort through trash at one of the largest recycling plants in the Northeast.
Why it matters: Penn Waste says the robots can more efficiently sort through the hundreds of tons of recycling the plant processes each year.
The big picture: The robots, created by Amazon-backed startup Glacier, are already being deployed in cities like San Francisco, Seattle and Detroit, but this is the first time they're being used in Pennsylvania.
Driving the news: Penn Waste officials will demo the robots during an event and facility tour on Wednesday at the company's plant in York, about 100 miles west of Philly.
How it works: The robots utilize advanced computer vision to identify and sort through dozens of materials, ranging from synthetic fibers to toothpaste tubes, at about 45 picks per minute, company representatives tell Axios.
What they're saying: Many Americans still don't recycle, Glacier says, and many waste management facilities are too understaffed to adequately sort through their trash heaps.
- The company estimates one of its robots can keep more than 10 million recyclable items a year out of the landfill, reducing carbon emissions equivalent to 500 cars on the road.
Zoom in: The project received funding from Cox Enterprises. Penn Waste processes about 225 tons of recycling from Cox Enterprises' wholesale auction sites in Manheim.
What we're watching: As AI use becomes more widespread, Philly lawmakers are holding a hearing on Oct. 15 that'll provide a glimpse into which city agencies are currently using AI and how prepared the city is to deal with its impact.
Editor's note: Cox Enterprises is the owner of Axios Media.