The RECLAIM project explores new, more innovative solutions, needed to reduce costs and improve waste treatment efficiency even further. (Published in Waste Management World).
Despite the success of large-scale MRF facilities, there are cases where new, more innovative solutions are needed to reduce costs and improve waste treatment efficiency even further. The RECLAIM project explores these options.
Nowadays, recent technological advancements have facilitated the modernization of industrial Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), which are mainly supported by automated equipment specialized on waste treatment. Despite the success of these large-scale facilities, there are cases where new, more innovative solutions are needed to reduce costs and improve waste treatment efficiency even further. This is because the transportation of waste to MRF plants can be very costly in some cases and also, the use of a single large-scale facility does not provide much space for adaptation in order to address the individual needs of waste streams with diverse characteristics. To address the waste processing requirements of different cases such as rural or distant areas, transport hubs, or open-air concerts, a new trend has emerged, which regards the use of light and portable waste management units that can be easily deployed wherever needed to undertake the recovery of valuable recyclables. Until today, the existing solutions are manually operated and completely lack the support of AI or any other high-tech solution that could significantly enhance their productivity.
Project for efficient material recovery
RECLAIM aims to fill this gap. In particular, RECLAIM aims to exploit mature and well-tested AI-driven robotic waste management technology, which will be improved and embedded in a state of the art “portable, robotic MRF” (prMRF) that will be capable of significantly enhancing local-scale material recovery activities providing them with industrial-level efficiency.
Interestingly, aiming to overcome environmental challenges, the European Green Deal aspires to leave no person or place behind in waste management. Due to its portability, autonomy and efficiency, the prMRF will significantly contribute to achieving this goal.