AMP Robotics Partners with Greenbridge to Increase PET Recovery

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): AMP Robotics Corp., a pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and infrastructure for the waste industry, has deployed six AI-guided robotic sorting systems with Evergreen, one of the nation’s largest recyclers of PET bottles, at its Ohio processing facility. AMP’s technology identifies and sorts green and clear PET from post-consumer bales of plastic soft drink bottles, which Evergreen recycles into reusable flakes or pellets (rPET) and sells to end markets as feedstock for new containers and packaging. Evergreen is a subsidiary of Greenbridge, formerly Polychem, a leading manufacturer of polyester and polypropylene products, serving the food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, and industrial industries since 1974.

“As a leader in the recycling of post-consumer PET bottles, the precision and accuracy of AI and robotics has aided our ability to better monitor the composition of material throughout our operation, boost recovery, and ensure high quality in the rPET resin we produce,” said Greg Johnson, vice president of operations for Greenbridge and Evergreen. “AMP’s technology aligns with our core values of environmental responsibility, sustainability, the safety and wellbeing of our team, and profitability.”

Products made from rPET can be recycled again—important as states consider legislation around producer responsibility, which charges producers higher rates for hard-to-recycle packaging and could drive packaging design that uses more recycled content. If plastics are not properly separated during the sorting phase, and different materials get processed together, it produces a lower-quality resin, which may not meet manufacturers’ product standards and the stringent requirements for food-grade and beverage containers. AMP’s installation at Evergreen demonstrates the company’s continuous market expansion with plastics reclaimers in addition to its infrastructure modernization efforts with materials recovery facilities.

“Greenbridge and Evergreen are leading the way in applying innovation to increase the capture and processing of post-consumer resin (PCR). With the U.S. recycling less than 10% of plastics produced annually, their application of advanced technology is expanding recovery, diverting material from landfill, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions,” said Matanya Horowitz, founder and CEO of AMP Robotics. “AI-guided sortation can deliver scientifically calibrated mixes of material to meet reclaimers’ specifications and those of end-market buyers. The technology helps ensure a higher-quality end product and a larger volume of recycled material for brands to source for their recycled content goals and sustainability commitments and improves the bottom line of reclaimers who supply it.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com