SORTING | TECHNOLOGY


to one machine at a time. With Mind, we’re extend- ing that intelligence across multiple units into a unified system, moving beyond individual equip- ment. It gives operators the control and insight needed to manage complexity, improve perfor- mance, and make smarter decisions.” Mind combines computer vision, machine


learning, and real-time decision-making to detect and classify materials, transform insights into actions, and improve system performance. Operat- ing as a closed-loop intelligence system, it enables MRFs to adapt to evolving material streams while maintaining efficiency and consistency. Machinex is also introducing Mind AirPulse, a pneumatic separator which translates intelligent decisions into precise, high-speed sorting actions exceeding 20x the sorting rate of a manual sorter. A similar approach to that of Machinex is being deployed by EverestLabs which has developed Navigator, an AI assistant for plant operators built specifically for MRFs and plastics recycling plants which acts as an intelligent layer across the facility, continuously monitoring material flow, equipment performance, and operational conditions. Using vision AI, Agentic AI, and a conversational interface, it can identify operational blind spots, uncover sources of material loss, detect bottlenecks and performance changes, and recommend actions operators can take. Navigator is designed to work alongside existing equipment, bringing insights from across the facility into a single operational view. “Instead of individual machines operating independently, equipment, sensors, computer vision, and robotics can work together as part of a coordinated system,” said Apurba Pradhan, Head of Product and Marketing at EverestLabs. “AI can analyse data from across the plant, recognise patterns that may be difficult to identify manually, and help determine where changes could have the greatest operational impact. Vision AI systems can continuously capture information about material moving through the facility, while robotic systems can act on that information.”


US advances Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) recently announced a new automated MRF on the Western Colorado slope in the US to be run by Bruin Waste. The new facility, set to begin operation later this year, combines Max-AI Air, a sorting solution combining AI with high-speed air ejection, SpydIR-HS, a high-resolution optical sorter using Hyper Spectral Imaging, and Total Intelligence Platform which provides real-time monitoring and analytics. AMP designs, builds, and operates plants to


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


process single-stream recycling and municipal solid waste. A significant recent development was the finalisation of a 20-year agreement with the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) in Virginia, US, in which AMP will deploy AI-powered sortation and recovery infrastructure to process approximately 540,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually. The system is expected to become the largest recycling project in the US, diverting at least 50% of the material delivered by SPSA from landfill. The company will leverage two sortation facilities in Portsmouth, Virginia, while collaborating with SPSA to dispose of residuals. AMP’s technology directly applies computer


vision, deep learning, robotics, and high-speed air-jet sorting, and has already demonstrated its viability at commercial scale. During a third-party- validated acceptance test in early 2026, more than 500 tonnes of municipal solid waste was processed and approximately 360 tonnes diverted into recyclable and organic streams, surpassing the project’s contractual requirements.


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.tomra.com � www.polyperception.com � www.databeyond.com � www.wm.com � www.buhlergroup.com � https://steinertglobal.com � https://bt-systems.at � https://redwave.com � www.sesotec.com � www.gepecotech.com � www.bollegraaf.com � www.greyparrot.ai � www.machinexrecycling.com � https://everestlabs.ai � https://bulkhandlingsystems.com � https://ampsortation.com � https://inspec.tech


September 2026 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 27


Above: AMP says it has deployed more than 400 AI systems around the world


IMAGE: AMP


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