PITTSBURGH, PA.—Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and CleanRobotics today announced a partnership to implement AI recycling bin TrashBot at the airport to assist with smart waste management initiatives. As part of PIT’s commitment to exploring innovative aviation technologies, TrashBot will join the facility to sort passenger waste and recyclables with 96% accuracy.
TrashBot is a smart bin that sorts waste at the point of disposal while gathering data and delivering education to users. Through AI and robotics, TrashBot’s technology identifies and sorts the item into its corresponding bin, reducing contamination and recovering more recyclables. TrashBot is ideal for high-traffic areas where contamination inhibits successful recycling and composting. For airports, TrashBot can significantly influence waste diversion rates and educate a traveling population, driving long-term sustainable impact.
“TrashBot’s implementation at PIT Airport, and the work we do together, embodies how AI and robotics can transform waste management and sustainability practices within airports. We’re eager to see how TrashBot and associated waste data can support and advance PIT’s commitment to solving operational challenges through innovation,” said CleanRobotics CEO Charles Yhap.
Photo Courtesy of PIT Airport
The project is facilitated by PIT’s xBridge Innovation Center. Launched in 2020, xBridge is PIT’s proving ground for technologies and startups that solves for needs in today’s airports and tests and incubates strategic technologies that could be deployed in the future. The proof-of-concept and pilot site showcases new technologies in a real-world operating environment. The xBridge is designed to capitalize on and grow the region’s powerful tech economy right at the airport for the aviation industry and beyond. xBridge has partnered with firms ranging from global Fortune 500 companies to local start-ups for projects that have tackled air purification, deployed robotic floor scrubbers, and applied artificial intelligence to security wait times.
“The TrashBot is an innovative product that fits right into our vision of a more sustainable future,” said Cole Wolfson, xBridge Director. “Bringing AI and robotics into a sector like waste management, which affects the entire aviation industry, and giving us the ability to dramatically upgrade our recycling efforts is a game-changer. We’re really proud of this partnership with CleanRobotics.”
A mission-driven company, CleanRobotics aims to disrupt facility waste management by applying AI- and data-driven solutions to recycling programs. The CleanRobotics team is driven by the core belief that sorting waste accurately at the source is the best way to ensure recyclables and other recoverable materials are diverted from landfills. CleanRobotics’ mission ensures the effectiveness of recycling at high-traffic facilities while expanding education and securing the ROI of these programs.
Tanner Cook, Co-Founder at CleanRobotics, joins Builder Nation Podcast host Elisa Muñoz to share his experiences as a leader in the waste management and recycling industry and the insights he has gained from his broad experience in mechanical engineering.
This interview was brought to you by BuilderNation, the community of Hardware leaders developing world-changing products, and sponsored by ControlHub, the purchasing software for hardware companies.
Waste management and recycling are crucial practices for environmental sustainability. Waste management involves collecting, transporting, and disposing of waste materials, while recycling involves processing waste materials into new products. By reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, these practices help conserve natural resources.
CleanRobotics is one of the companies at the forefront of transforming the industry. Their innovative technology employs robotics, AI, and machine learning to improve waste sorting and recycling accuracy, efficiency, and speed.
This blog post will delve into the waste management and recycling industry and the technologies for automated waste sorting and recycling, with a particular focus on CleanRobotics.
Waste management and recycling
Waste management and recycling is a rapidly growing sector of the economy, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable waste management practices. The global waste management market is projected to reach $542.7 billion in revenue by 2026.
However, the environmental impact of waste management and recycling practices must be addressed. Landfills, for example, produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. In contrast, recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions by conserving natural resources and reducing energy consumption.
Proper practices can reduce the impact of pollution and provide numerous benefits for the environment and society, such as reducing pollution, conserving natural resources, and creating jobs. By reducing the amount of waste in landfills, these practices also help extend the lifespan of existing landfills and reduce the need for new ones.
In addition, recycling reduces the need to extract new raw materials from the environment, conserves natural resources, and minimizes the environmental impact of mining and other extraction activities. Recycling also reduces energy consumption, as it requires less energy to process recycled materials than it does to process raw materials.
The demand for sustainable waste management practices drives the development of new technologies and innovations, such as advanced waste sorting systems and new recycling processes. These data-driven approaches are helping waste management companies improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and increase recycling rates.
CleanRobotics
CleanRobotics is an innovative company that creates sustainable waste management and recycling solutions. They strive to make recycling smarter and revolutionize the industry by introducing new and innovative solutions, helping achieve zero waste goals by introducing smart, data-driven approaches that empower decision-making.
CleanRobotics solves the confusion around waste disposal, which leads to contamination of recyclables and high recycling costs, thus creating a greener tomorrow. Their flagship product, Trashbot™, is a smart trash can that sorts recyclables from everyday trash and provides data on trash and recycling to update waste management processes dynamically.
TrashBot
TrashBot is an intelligent recycling bin developed to address the challenges of waste management and recycling. It is an innovative solution that combines AI, robotics, and machine learning to sort waste at the disposal point. Its purpose is to increase sorting accuracy and reduce contamination rates while educating the public about recycling best practices.
This robot helps improve waste management and recycling. It weighs about 250 pounds or 113 kilograms and is around 73 inches or 185 centimeters tall. The unit’s dimensions are 44 x 23.5 x 48 inches (112 x 60 x 122 cm), and the monitor on top is 43.5 x 25 inches (110.5 x 58 cm). Its total capacity is 80 gallons or 304 liters, but the exact capacity of each bin depends on the system configuration. TrashBot uses 250 to 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity with moderate to heavy use.
Benefits
Higher diversion rates: TrashBot helps facilities increase sorting accuracy to 96%, compared to the 30% accuracy of conventional bins. This means more materials get recycled, reducing landfill waste and associated environmental harm.
Cost-effective recycling: with the help of TrashBot’s innovative technology, facilities can reduce contamination, avoid recycling fines, and achieve a positive impact on the environment, leading to more cost-effective environmental programs and a greater return on investment.
User recycling education: TrashBot features a large 55-inch screen that can display educational content or advertisements, helping to educate the public about recycling best practices and increasing awareness of sustainability initiatives.
Positive environmental impact: TrashBot’s technology helps reduce landfill waste and associated ecological harm, positively impacting the environment.
Composting: TrashBot can increase waste composting by 200% or more by diverting organic waste into the appropriate bin.
Features
Recycling AI and robotics: TrashBot uses robotics, computer vision, and machine learning to detect and separate landfill waste from recyclables. When an item enters TrashBot, a perception system captures and identifies the item’s image and classifies it by type of waste, diverting it to its respective bin.
Waste data and analytics: TrashBot captures high-quality data and generates analytics for on-demand, exportable waste audits. With our intuitive dashboard, users can monitor the bin’s capacity, track diversion rates, notice trends, and make strategic decisions.
Fullness notifications: TrashBot monitors its internal capacity and triggers SMS or email notifications for the custodial team when it’s complete, reducing the need for manual monitoring and increasing efficiency.
Customizable AI for compliance: TrashBot’s AI technology can be customized to ensure compliance with local regulations and waste management policies.
Cloud connectivity: TrashBot’s waste data is stored in the cloud, allowing smart bin fleets to become more intelligent over time and ensuring that facilities always have access to real-time data and insights.
Dynamic content: TrashBot provides real-time, adaptable feedback and engaging, custom content reflecting what is being thrown away. With TrashBot’s waste data, our Customer Success team can develop relevant educational content for the facility’s most popular waste items, educating users on recycling properly.
FAQ’s
When it comes to TrashBots, it’s natural to have many questions. Here are some frequently asked questions about CleanRobotic’s TrashBot:
What is TrashBot? TrashBot is an intelligent recycling bin that sorts waste at the disposal point.
Is TrashBot a robot? Yes, it is an automated machine combining robotics, AI, and machine learning to divert the disposed item into its corresponding bin.
How does TrashBot work? Once an item has been inserted into TrashBot, the waste chamber moves the item to the camera for identification and ultimately to the proper bin for disposal. Then, recycling items will be assigned to recycling, organics to their corresponding bin, and the rest of the waste or contaminated items will be assigned to the landfill bin.
How long does it take to sort an item? TrashBot takes around 4 to 6 seconds to sort. The cycle time is the period between disposals.
How many waste streams can TrashBot sort? The system can sort 2, 3, or 4 separate waste streams.
Can TrashBot be customized for my local recycling requirements? Every TrashBot is calibrated to the local waste rules and regulations before it is deployed.
How accurate is TrashBot’s AI? TrashBot sorts waste items with 96% accuracy.
How often does the Dashboard Update? The dashboard updates every 15 minutes.
Does the AI improve over time? Yes, TrashBots share data, learn from each other, and are always getting better.
What is TrashBot’s cycle time? The cycle time is the period between disposals, which is approximately 4 to 6 seconds. The new TrashBot Zero’s cycle time is only 6 seconds from when the end user throws away a piece of trash to when the gantry is back lined up with the deposit opening allowing another amount of waste.
How can I know when TrashBot is full? Users can view how full each TrashBot is on your personalized TrashBoard, which will help keep your custodian team on track with TrashBots in more remote areas of your facility that may not get tended to regularly. It is important to note that the sensing chamber needs to be maintained clean to prevent future jams or sorting issues.
Does TrashBot provide jam notifications? Yes, if the TrashBot ever gets jammed, the user will be notified in two ways. First, the TrashBot logo on the unit will change colors to signal a jam to the housekeeping and/or maintenance staff. Second, the user will also be notified on the Dashboard under the TrashBot fleet.
CleanRobotics Launches New Interactive Content Feature for TrashBot
LONGMONT, CO.–Recycling tech startup CleanRobotics announces new features in its autonomous waste-sorting bin, TrashBot, that will enable it to deliver custom content in response to users throwing away waste.
TrashBot revolutionizes the recycling process by sorting waste at the point of disposal using AI and driving user engagement around waste diversion and recycling. TrashBot also collects high-quality data on every piece of waste deposited and provides on-demand, cloud-based waste audits. TrashBot has proven to be an excellent solution for high-traffic areas where improper sorting and excessive contamination have been considerable obstacles to successful recycling and composting.
With its newest feature, TrashBot will be able to display custom educational content based on disposed items and respond to users with feedback in real time. Once TrashBot sorts the waste item into the correct bin inside, the user will get a helpful tip based on the item they just threw away, acknowledging the completion of the process and providing education. Using TrashBot’s waste data, the CleanRobotics team will continue to develop relevant educational content reflecting the trends of its host facility.
“One of the more compelling aspects of TrashBot’s tech is its AI-based sorting algorithm, which correctly identifies objects at the point of disposal, leading to 95% stream accuracy. With the introduction of our new interactive content feature, the TrashBot’s AI system has gotten just a bit smarter,” says CleanRobotics’ Senior Director of Software and AI, Richard Galvez, PhD. “With this feature, TrashBot can now react to the precise item disposed and educate users on context-specific tips related to the detected item. For example, although identifying plastic bottles and diverting them from landfill is great enough, the TrashBot’s AI can now also advise the user to empty out water from their plastic bottles before disposal so they can be properly recycled.”
CleanRobotics believes that lack of public education presents a significant barrier to recycling and has invested substantial effort into ensuring TrashBot is easy to use and drives more behavior change. By deploying TrashBot units nationwide in airports, hospitals, and stadiums, the company projects TrashBots can educate millions of visitors over time, foster a sense of environmental responsibility, and encourage actions to support a circular future.
“TrashBot’s new dynamic content feature will expand the reach of the education provided by creating a more engaging environment for the user. Our customers will now be able to leverage this engagement of their facility population by helping users understand where their waste is going and how it affects the waste management system and our environment,” says Alexandra Niesen, Associate Director of Customer Success for CleanRobotics. “As we continue to track unique patterns through our customer’s waste data, we can utilize dynamic content to change the way the world thinks about trash and how we throw it away.”
A mission-driven company combining recycling AI, robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, CleanRobotics brings new life to recycling programs and the circular economy. The CleanRobotics team is driven by the core belief that sorting waste accurately at the source is the best way to ensure recyclables and other recoverable materials are diverted from landfills, driving substantial environmental impact. CleanRobotics’ mission ensures the effectiveness of recycling programs at high-traffic facilities while securing the ROI of such programs.
To learn more about TrashBot, visit https://cleanrobotics.com/dynamic-content/
LONGMONT, CO.–The National Aviary in Pittsburgh and recycling tech startup CleanRobotics are excited to announce a partnership to implement TrashBot at the facility. The National Aviary, using a generous grant from Posner Foundation, chose the smart recycling bin as part of a food waste reduction education program.
“Food waste is a conservation challenge that we can all influence. The TrashBot, along with the National Aviary’s food waste reduction education program, will provide a chance for our guests to learn about the problems of food waste while also understanding how our choices can make a difference every day,” says Conor McGarvey, Director of Facility Development and Operations for the National Aviary. “We are grateful to the Posner Foundation for their support of this partnership with CleanRobotics and for the opportunity to bring this innovative technology to the National Aviary’s guests.”
The National Aviary will use TrashBot to help guests learn about food waste and its detrimental effects on birds and their ecosystems. The Aviary will also gather data and insights to develop a more comprehensive waste management program, all with the welfare of birds in mind. The Aviary hopes that with the help of TrashBot’s data and education, Aviary visitors will be encouraged and empowered to reduce their food waste.
TrashBot is a smart recycling bin that sorts waste at the point of disposal with 95% accuracy. Through AI, robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, its recycling technology sorts the item into the corresponding bin inside, reducing contamination and recovering more circular materials. TrashBot has proven to be an excellent solution for high-traffic areas where improper sorting and excessive contamination have been considerable obstacles to successful recycling and composting.
“Educating the world on the effect that waste can have is a core value of CleanRobotics. We’re proud and excited to deploy our system to the National Aviary with the help of the Posner Foundation, organizations that also believe in the value of education and sustainability. We hope interactions with TrashBot will inspire curiosity and the opportunity for anyone to learn a bit more about how waste works,” says Tanner Cook, Senior VP of Engineering for CleanRobotics.
TrashBot’s tenure at the National Aviary will continue to increase diversion rates and accelerate food waste education. Looking to the future, the Aviary hopes TrashBot will inform more sustainable waste management and help identify opportunities for improvement.
Located in Allegheny Commons Park on Pittsburgh’s historic Northside, the National Aviary is home to more than 500 birds representing more than 150 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. Dynamic education programming led by the National Aviary’s educators brings the fascinating world of birds and their habitats to diverse audiences and instills a conservation ethic that teaches the responsibility we all share in being stewards of our planet.
A mission-driven company combining recycling AI, robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, CleanRobotics brings new life to recycling programs and the circular economy. The CleanRobotics team is driven by the core belief that sorting waste accurately at the source is the best way to ensure recyclables and other recoverable materials are diverted from landfills, driving substantial environmental impact. CleanRobotics’ mission ensures the effectiveness of recycling programs at high-traffic facilities while securing the ROI of such programs.
To learn more about TrashBot, visit www.cleanrobotics.com
TrashBot Zero Deploys Nationwide in Facilities with Zero Waste Goals
January 3, 2022 —Chicago, Illinois. CleanRobotics, a global leader in green robotic technology, and ARO, a leader in supporting field operations and management of robotics, drones, and automated workforce, announce a partnership to bring national support to CleanRobotics’ fleet of Trashbot Zero.
“We’re excited to deploy our TrashBot system nationally with such a well-respected partner as ARO. Partnering with a company that shares many values with CleanRobotics will create opportunities to push our goals of building a sustainable and valuable waste ecosystem,” said Tanner Cook, CleanRobotics Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Engineering.
CleanRobotics was founded in 2015 to revolutionize waste and resource recovery and provide innovative technological solutions to persistent environmental problems. As the company’s flagship product, TrashBot identifies and sorts waste items at the time of disposal and eliminates human error. Additionally, TrashBot provides high-quality data and insights to empower decision-making, making it an ideal solution for high-traffic facilities such as stadiums, airports, and hospitals. Since its launch, TrashBot has been implemented in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The National Aviary, and several other companies.
“We’re incredibly enthusiastic to support CleanRobotics. Trashbot Zero is a game-changing device that will not only help businesses and large venues with their recycling efforts but will also have a measurable impact on reducing recyclable waste from landfills. In a world of robotics designed to make life better, Trashbot Zero is designed to make the planet better. We’re happy to support CleanRobotics and to ensure a fast and successful rollout, with ongoing support of their devices” said Jeff Pittelkow, Managing Director of Robotics for ARO.
ARO is a global leader in Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), including robotic financing, management, operations, customer success, and support. Through ARO’s unique RaaS model, manufacturers can enjoy capital preservation and operational commercialization. End-customers can enjoy a high level of management, support, and oversite of their new robotic employees. These management services include implementation, daily operations, 24/7 remote monitoring, robotic fleet management, account management, break/fix support, dedicated personnel, and complete robot lifecycle management.
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Chicago, ARO has over 30 years of experience in managed services and operations, specializing in integrating people, processes, and technology.
A mission-driven company combining recycling AI, robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, CleanRobotics brings new life to recycling programs and the circular economy. The CleanRobotics team is driven by the core belief that sorting waste accurately at the source is the best way to ensure recyclables and other recoverable materials are diverted from landfills, driving substantial environmental impact. CleanRobotics’ mission ensures the effectiveness of recycling programs at high-traffic facilities while securing the ROI of such programs.
Award-winning tech startup CleanRobotics is proud to announce that its Co-Founder and CEO, Charles Yhap, has been named an honoree in the 2022 Smart Business Pittsburgh Smart 50 Awards.
The Pittsburgh Smart 50 recognizes top executives in the region for their ability to build and lead successful organizations and for their efforts in Impact, Innovation and Sustainability. Smart Business Magazine has been recognizing executives’ leadership efforts and success, in a range of industries, through their Smart 50 awards since 2014. Charles Yhap and CleanRobotics are joined by honorees including Rama Subba Rao of Aquatech International, a global leader in water purification technology, and Ameesh Kapoor of 412 Food Rescue, a platform that provides a high-tech solution to food assistance and combats food waste.
Yhap co-founded CleanRobotics in 2015 to revolutionize waste recovery, eliminate confusion around recycling rules, and prevent contamination of materials before they are sent to recycling facilities. By combining education, artificial intelligence and advanced robotics, CleanRobotics solves recycling problems at the source. The company’s flagship product, TrashBot, identifies and sorts waste items at the time of disposal and eliminates human error. Additionally, TrashBot features a screen and content management system, educating the public and making recycling accessible and easier for everyone.
TrashBot also generates on-demand waste audits and provides analytics to empower decision-making, making it particularly effective in high-traffic facilities with Zero Waste goals. TrashBot makes it possible for organizations to achieve quantifiable, repeatable outcomes when it comes to their sustainability initiatives, bringing us all one step closer to a zero-waste future.
A mission-driven company combining recycling AI, robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, CleanRobotics brings new life to recycling programs and the circular economy. The CleanRobotics team is driven by the core belief that sorting waste accurately at the source is the best way to ensure recyclables and other recoverable materials are diverted from landfills, driving substantial environmental impact. CleanRobotics’ mission ensures the effectiveness of recycling programs at high-traffic facilities while securing the ROI of such programs.
More information on how to pilot TrashBot in your facility can be found at www.cleanrobotics.com.
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