Still from a Waste Robotics demonstration video.
This story has been updated.
The Canadian government will invest in a company that’s developing artificial intelligence machinery to separate materials at recycling facilities.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) announced a 1.4 million Canadian dollars (about $1 million U.S.) investment in Waste Robotics, a Québec-headquartered company.
“Waste Robotics develops intelligent sorting systems that are revolutionizing the waste recycling industry and contributing in a significant way to sustainable development,” Eric Camirand, founder and CEO of Waste Robotics, stated in a press release. “We are very pleased to be able to benefit from the support of SDTC to demonstrate our technologies under real commercial conditions, thus strengthening the growth of Waste Robotics.”
Other companies in the U.S., Canada and Europe have already entered the field and are quickly selling their systems to single-stream MRFs, mixed-waste processing facilities, C&D sorting facilities, plastics reclaimers and others. Those using artificial intelligence to identify materials so they can be sorted include Denver-based AMP Robotics; Eugene, Ore.-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS); Plessisville, Quebec-based Machinex (working in partnership with AMP); and Helsinki-based ZenRobotics.
This story has been updated to include Machinex among the recycling equipment providers that have already commercialized robotic sorting technologies.
Photo courtesy of Waste Robotics.
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