The Kent County Department of Public Works says the recent use of robots that rely on artificial intelligence to sort materials, is the “capstone to years of investments” aimed at improving recycling and decreasing costs.
“We set a bold goal to divert 90% of trash from landfills by 2030, and the upgrades made in our Recycling & Education Center, as well as the upcoming Sustainable Business Park, are an essential part of reaching that goal,” said Dar Baas, director of the DPW in a press release. “We have seen the harmful long-term impacts of landfilling, and the investments we make will help ensure we’re protecting our land, air and water now and into the future.”
The center is the primary facility for recyclables coming from households in West Michigan. The center is responsible for processing 60 million pounds of recyclables each year, according to DPW.
With the help of robots, DPW says quality, efficiency and safety have all been improved at the center. The Robots were installed with funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The center has seen other upgrades as well, that DPW says have resulted in fewer people needed to operate certain functions at the center leading to overall cost savings.
Despite positive improvements however, residential access continues to be an issue, according to DPW.
Recent waste characterization studies have shown the Recycling and Education Center is only processing about 25% of available recyclable material in Kent County. But DPW is hoping the upcoming Bioenergy facility can help.
“The upgrades we’ve made to the Recycling & Education Center support the safety of workers at the facility,” Baas said. “Using the most innovative technology in our recycling practices, and with the upcoming Sustainable Business Park, we’ll put West Michigan on the map as a national leader in recycling, reducing waste and material management.”
