Author: https://www.packagingnews.com.au/latest/when-ai-counts-transforming-vic-s-cds-recycling Publish Time: 2024-12-11 Origin: https://www.packagingnews.com.au/latest/when-ai-counts-transforming-vic-s-cds-recycling
Victoria’s container deposit scheme (CDS) has introduced advanced AI technology to revolutionize recycling. Central to this innovation is CountAIner, an AI-driven recycling machine now operational at the CDS Vic Depot in Dandenong South.
Developed in partnership with a leading waste management organization and a Canadian engineering firm, CountAIner can process up to 1,500 containers per minute—a first outside North America. Utilizing machine learning, it identifies, counts, and sorts containers with remarkable accuracy and efficiency.
This deployment builds on the CDS’s significant achievements. In its first year, the scheme facilitated the return of over one billion containers, providing AU$100 million in refunds to Victorians and reducing litter sent to landfills by 50%.
By incorporating AI, the CDS aims to further enhance recycling outcomes. CountAIner’s high-speed sorting reduces operational costs, increases throughput, and strengthens sustainability efforts. Its adoption marks a transformative step in waste management, with the potential to influence recycling practices globally.
