The new plant will be operational in the summer of 2022.

Danish environmental services company Solum A/S will soon operate a highly advanced waste sorting plant that will use advanced robotics and AI to segregate up to 25,000 tons of mixed waste annually. The robots, which work 24/7, will receive and intelligently sort refuse sourced from municipalities, industry and business and comprising combustible waste, bulky waste, metal, wood, and plastic. (ZenRobotics)

How it will work

The new Solum plant is designed around robotics technology by ZenRobotics and distributed by ReTec Miljø.

At the plant AI-powered robots replace manual processes and operate independently around the clock. They are powered by advanced AI and sensor technologies.

At the Solum plant, multiple robot arms can lift objects up to 30kg and together handle up to 4,000 picks per hour working continuously and round the clock.

After an initial screening, the waste is then loaded onto a feeding bunker that uses a loader to feed the material to the robots evenly and autonomously.

The robotic sorting eliminates occupational health hazards associated with manual sorting, increases the degree of purity by up to 98% and reduces the associated costs.

Therefore, the process improves recycling efficiency, work safety and the circular economy.

“The fully independent and automated waste sorting plant creates a safer and more efficient recycling environment, lowering operating costs and recovering more valuable, high-quality fractions,” said Jarmo Ruohonen, CEO of ZenRobotics. “Modern waste sorting infrastructure is essential to transition to a circular economy and meet the increasing demand for high quality recycled materials.”

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