The robotic arms move at a furious pace inside the Republic Services waste and recycling warehouse.

• Out, down, suction, up, back, drop — 60 to 70 times per minute.

Why it matters: Powered by AI, the machine can identify the composition of the material and sort accordingly.

• This leads to less waste in landfills and reduces contamination, so recyclable materials can be repurposed.

State of play: Republic Services recently installed AI robots at its north Denver facility, which handles about 10,000 tons of waste each month.

• The machine is monitored remotely by the California-based engineer Glacier and can move faster than optical scanners and hand sorters, making waste diversion just 25%.
• If it can't identify a product, it goes to the trash.

By the numbers: 67% of the recyclable materials are cardboard and another 17% are mixed paper products.

What they're saying: "The thing with AI, every month it's getting better," says general manager Steve Derus.

The other side: Even with the robotic advantage, the plant employs hundreds of workers over two shifts, keeping it running almost all day.

• "It's not replacing labor, but labor is hard to find for these jobs," he adds. "If we have people do other jobs, it's a better use of their time."

The big picture: Colorado is preparing to debut statewide recycling.

• In 2025, the state's diversion rate was 15.7%, according to Eco-Cycle. The Polis administration's goal is to increase waste diversion to 35% by the end of this year and 45% by 2036.
• Officials estimate a 35% increase would reduce emissions as much as removing 1.1 million cars from the road for a year.

What's next: Republic Services is adding more AI and robotics to its facilities nationwide.

• "This AI thing is going to be the future," Derus says.

Send to a neighbor

If you want to ensure your recycling actually gets recycled, Republic Services' Derus shared his suggestions.

"The smarter people are about recycling the right stuff, the better we are," he says.

1. If you're unsure whether it's recyclable, throw it out, he says.
2. Don't put recycling in a plastic trash bag; empty the bag into the cart. The sorters don't have time to open plastic bags, so they go directly to the trash.
3. Soiled pizza boxes are not recyclable.
4. Empty, rinse and dry recyclable materials before putting them in the cart. The material is determined by the machine based on weight, so don't leave any liquid in the container.

Don't expect a faceoff for the top race on the Democratic ballot. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is skipping many debates and forums.

Why it matters: His strategy to avoid confronting his primary rival, state Sen. Julie Gonzales, is shortchanging voters' ability to judge the candidates side by side.

State of play: In his reelection bid — the final one of his career — Hickenlooper has declined TV debates, major interviews, candidate questionnaires, the state Democratic Party assembly and two forums organized by party officials.

• His absences are notable given his counterpart, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, is attending dozens of debates and forums in his primary bid for Colorado governor.

The other side: Gonzales, a progressive from Denver, is conducting a statewide tour with 20 events from June 6 –23.

By the numbers: What gives Hickenlooper the ability to bypass events is his widespread name recognition after two terms as Denver mayor and Colorado governor.

• Meanwhile, a majority of voters don't know Gonzales, but those who do overwhelmingly view her favorably, an internal campaign poll found.

What they're (not) saying

📈 Inflation in metro Denver rose by 5% compared to a year ago, driven in part by a sharp increase in energy costs. (Colorado Sun)

🏈 Broncos head coach Sean Payton inked a new five-year contract, though financial terms weren't released. (ESPN)

🕊️ Aurora City Council responded court order granting new trials for two paramedics convicted in Elijah McClain's 2019 death, saying the ruling reopened grief for McClain's family and residents. (Axios Arapahoe County)

🎓 Some University of Denver faculty and graduate students are raising concerns over major academic restructuring, with some declaring "no confidence" in the school's vision. (Denver Post 🔑)

Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington's road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup started fewer than three months ago.

Zoom in: The 18-year-old from Brisbane earned a spot on the Australian national team's 26-man roster after making his debut with the squad on March 27.

Why it matters: Herrington is the only Rapids player representing the club in soccer's biggest international tournament — and could become the youngest Australian to start a World Cup match.

Reality check: It's unclear how much playing time he'll get.

Yes, but: He's already shown promise as a starter for both the Rapids and Australia.

• The youngster has made four appearances this year for the Socceroos — the Australian national team's nickname.

What's next: Australia opens group play against Turkey on Sunday in Vancouver.

Send to a Rapids fan

Mayor Johnston stopped by Skyline Park yesterday, greeting FIFA World Cup fans gathered to watch Mexico take on South Africa.

• Sporting a Mexico jersey, Johnston welcomed the crowd in Spanish, drawing cheers from supporters. 🇲🇽