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- AI optimization: a major ally for sorting plastic waste
- Algorithms and data processing: towards increased recovery of materials
- A real-time management tool for increased control
- Development and expansion of AI applications
- Improving site performance with intelligent incineration
- Towards a more responsible future
Plastic waste management, a crucial challenge of our time, is increasingly benefiting from advances in artificial intelligence (AI). With a recycling rate of household plastic waste capped at only 27%, it is becoming imperative to optimize the sorting and recovery process. Suez, a major player in this field, is deploying AI-based systems, such as Autodiag, in its sorting centers, offering increased precision and thus significantly improving the quality of the recovered materials. Thanks to this technology, plastic waste can be categorized and treated with unprecedented efficiency, increasing its recovery rate and reducing the overall environmental impact.
In a world where plastic recycling is at the bottom of the scale with only 27% of household plastic waste recycled, Suez is taking part in a technological revolution by integrating artificial intelligence into its processes. This initiative not only increases the efficiency of plastic waste sorting but also guarantees a higher quality of recycled materials. Using the example of the sorting center in Poitiers, this article explores the different aspects of this transformation made possible by the deployment of advanced systems such as Autodiag.
AI optimization: a major ally for sorting plastic waste
The adoption ofartificial intelligence becomes a crucial lever for the management of plastic waste. At the Poitiers sorting center, the Autodiag system, developed by Suez, demonstrates indisputable efficiency. Equipped with sophisticated cameras, Autodiag analyzes masses of waste using powerful algorithms to sort and recover materials. This technological process replaces manual and random methods, thus guaranteeing the reliability and homogeneity of materials intended for recycling.
Algorithms and data processing: towards increased recovery of materials
The heart of this innovation lies in the ability of artificial intelligence algorithms to process an immense amount of visual data. Once the images are scanned by the cameras, they are analyzed to identify different types of plastics. This analysis guarantees that the recyclable plastic bales produced respect a 98% homogeneous composition as contractually required. This ensures optimal recovery of materials, avoiding mixtures that are harmful to recycling processes.
A real-time management tool for increased control
Thanks to AI, Suez teams can now monitor the quality of recoverable materials in real time. This dynamic and continuous control system allows rapid adjustments in the event of degradation of the recycled flow. For example, it is possible to modify the speed of the sorting belts or readjust the machine settings, even during periods when the types of waste vary, such as during the end-of-year holidays. This system offers a real management tool for optimized management of waste flows.
Development and expansion of AI applications
Suez does not stop at the management of plastics and plans to extend the use of artificial intelligence to other types of materials, such as paper. The simplification of sorting instructions since January 2023, particularly for plastics and paper, encourages the adoption of these technologies to improve the quality of recycling. This approach reinforces Suez’s commitment to a more efficient circular economy.
Improving site performance with intelligent incineration
In addition to sorting plastics, AI is also implemented in energy recovery units, where it positively influences the operation of incinerators. By scanning to detect bulky and hazardous waste, the process helps prevent operational incidents, thereby ensuring greater continuity of heat production from household waste.
Towards a more responsible future
By consolidating its sorting methods using AI, Suez aims to eradicate obstacles to plastic recycling, whether technical or logistical. The effective management of plastic waste, facilitated by this remarkable tool, not only contributes to increasing the quantities of plastic recovered, but also regenerates the quality of recycled materials, thus paving the way for a more environmentally responsible future.
