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Artificial Intelligence in the Sorting of Municipal Waste as an Enabler of the Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Henning Wilts

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy gGmbH, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Beatriz Riesco Garcia

    (Centre for Innovation in Smart Infrastructure in Guadalajara, 19005 Guadalajara, Spain)

  • Rebeca Guerra Garlito

    (Centre for Innovation in Smart Infrastructure in Guadalajara, 19005 Guadalajara, Spain)

  • Laura Saralegui Gómez

    (Ferrovial Services, 28050 Madrid and 08038 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Elisabet González Prieto

    (Ferrovial Services, 28050 Madrid and 08038 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

The recently finalized research project “ZRR for municipal waste” aimed at testing and evaluating the automation of municipal waste sorting plants by supplementing or replacing manual sorting, with sorting by a robot with artificial intelligence (ZRR). The objectives were to increase the current recycling rates and the purity of the recovered materials; to collect additional materials from the current rejected flows; and to improve the working conditions of the workers, who could then concentrate on, among other things, the maintenance of the robots. Based on the empirical results of the project, this paper presents the main results of the training and operation of the robotic sorting system based on artificial intelligence, which, to our knowledge, is the first attempt at an application for the separation of bulky municipal solid waste (MSW) and an installation in a full-scale waste treatment plant. The key questions for the research project included (a) the design of test protocols to assess the quality of the sorting process and (b) the evaluation of the performance quality in the first six months of the training of the underlying artificial intelligence and its database.

Suggested Citation

  • Henning Wilts & Beatriz Riesco Garcia & Rebeca Guerra Garlito & Laura Saralegui Gómez & Elisabet González Prieto, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence in the Sorting of Municipal Waste as an Enabler of the Circular Economy," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-9, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:10:y:2021:i:4:p:28-:d:526171
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
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    2. Gnekpe, Christian & Plantec, Quentin, 2023. "Regulatory push-pull and technological knowledge dynamics of circular economy innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    3. Daniel Luiz de Mattos Nascimento & Diessica de Oliveira‐Dias & José Moyano‐Fuentes & Juan Manuel Maqueira Marín & Jose Arturo Garza‐Reyes, 2024. "Interrelationships between circular economy and Industry 4.0: A research agenda for sustainable supply chains," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 575-596, February.
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    5. He, Xiaogang & Teng, Ruifeng & Feng, Dawei & Gai, Jiahui, 2024. "Industrial robots and pollution: Evidence from Chinese enterprises," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 629-650.
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    8. Chi Ho Li & Tsz Ting Lee & Stephen Siu Yu Lau, 2023. "Enhancement of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Hong Kong through Innovative Solutions: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    9. Truant, Elisa & Giordino, Daniele & Borlatto, Edoardo & Bhatia, Meena, 2024. "Drivers and barriers of smart technologies for circular economy: Leveraging smart circular economy implementation to nurture companies' performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
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    11. Zain Anwar Ali & Mahreen Zain & M. Salman Pathan & Peter Mooney, 2024. "Contributions of artificial intelligence for circular economy transition leading toward sustainability: an explorative study in agriculture and food industries of Pakistan," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 19131-19175, August.
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