TrashBot

TrashBot – the smart recycling bin

Country of development/application:

TrashBot is patented and manufactured in the United States (patent pending internationally).

Scope of innovation

☒ Office work

☒ Production / Service supply process

Sector-specific

☐ Yes / please, specify sector(s):

☒ No (relevant for all sectors)

Description of the needs

In 7 years, Earth’s temperature will increase by 1.5°C, from which there may be no return. Good news – making materials from recycled inputs is less carbon-intensive than using raw materials. CleanRobotics’ recycling can help and there are “tons” of room for improvement.

Did you know that only 6% of plastic is recycled? Today, most recycling bins are dumped in the trash. We need smarter bins to achieve better results.

CleanRobotics is creating innovative and cost-effective solutions for a sustainable tomorrow. Their hardware provides clean data that empowers decision-making for clients’ zero-waste vision; going above and beyond the impact of previous recycling breakthroughs. CleanRobotics data and technology are revolutionizing recycling as we know it.

Today, most recycling bins’ contents end up in landfills. CleanRobotics describe the idea of TrashBot as “born out of frustration” as people are still uncertain when depositing an item in a recycling bin. The solution is driven by the goal to entirely redefine waste operations inside of buildings.

There is a gap in today’s recycling. Every year more companies set Zero Waste goals but at a high cost; signage is ineffective, waste audits are inefficient, and recycling education is still a work in progress.

From smartphones to electric cars, innovations in technology have made our lives easier. So why not make recycling smarter?

Description of the solution

The US startup CleanRobotics developed a solution that allows recycling programs to be effective and drives substantial environmental impact by separating waste items at the time of disposal and eliminating human error.

CleanRobotics is reinventing the way facilities recover recyclables and manage their waste through the TrashBot smart bins, bridging the gap between the waste-generating public and the organization’s sustainability goals through AI sorting and data tracking. The smart recycling bin sorts at the point of disposal with 96% accuracy while also educating every user that interacts with it. Its recycling technology sorts 300% more accurately than human beings. The data generated allows the assessment of sustainability in terms of waste management, recovered circular materials, and carbon impact reduction.

Through recycling artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, the smart recycling technology diverts the item into its corresponding bin inside, assigning any contaminated items into the landfill bin or organics into their corresponding bins. All of this with 95% accuracy.

AI and machine learning sorting

As soon as an item enters TrashBot, a perception system captures and identifies the item’s image, through Machine Learning classifies the item by type of waste and diverts it to its respective bin, whether it’s recyclable, organic, or landfill.

Data and automated waste audits

TrashBot captures high-quality data and generates analytics for on-demand, exportable waste audits. With its intuitive dashboard users can monitor the bin’s capacity, track diversion rates, notice trends, and make strategic decisions.

Cloud connectivity and notifications

The waste data is stored in the cloud (and accessible from selected devices), allowing the smart bin fleet to become more intelligent over time. TrashBot also monitors its internal capacity and triggers SMS or email notifications for the custodial team.

The system can sort 2, 3, or 4 separate waste streams. Because of its dimensions and capability, TrashBot is best for big facilities with high traffic such as airports, stadiums, and hospitals. It is also recommended to have multiple units of the smart bin throughout one facility to capture the most waste possible.

TrashBot is calibrated to the local waste rules and regulations of the customer before it’s deployed. The unit dimensions are 112 x 60 x 122 cm, and the monitor on top is 110.5 x 58 cm. TrashBot’s capacity is 304 Liters Total, the exact capacity of bins being dependent on the configuration of the system:

 2 Streams = 152 Liters + 152

 3 Streams = 152 Liters + 76 + 76

 4 Streams = 76 Liters + 76 + 76 + 76

TrashBot uses 250kWh to 400kWh with moderate to heavy use.

Description of the effect

Higher Diversion Rates

TrashBot smart bin helps Zero Waste facilities increase sorting accuracy to 95%, in comparison to 30% of conventional bins. TrashBot’s recycling AI eliminates the general public’s uncertainty when throwing away recyclable items.

Cost-Effective Recycling

Often can be heard from facilities that their recycling bins’ contents end up in landfills – until implementing TrashBot. The smart bin improves diversion, meaning affordable recycling and cost-effective environmental programs.

User Recycling Education

The smart bin also features a large built-in screen and content management system. TrashBot can be leveraged for advertising, educating the public about recycling best practices or communicating the organization’s sustainability achievements.

Environmental Impact

A 2022 TrashBot pilot at one of the busiest airports in the world, showed that 40 TrashBots can divert 417 tons of recyclables a year. This results in the abatement of 1,111.30 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, which is equal to taking hundreds of cars off the road.

Composting

TrashBot can increase waste composting by 200% or more. Often, packaging and compostable food waste get mixed and sent to landfill. Data shows that if facilities replace the four most popular packaging items, diversion can increase by 25%.

TrashBot has been compared against conventional recycling bins and some available options, such as Bin-E, Oscar Sort, and Evo Eco. The major findings are presented below.

TrashBot vs Conventional Recycling Bins

High contamination, low user education, and other factors result in less than 35% of waste being recycled. Plain stainless steel bins can cost up to thousands of dollars, but with zero impact on waste diversion. TrashBot is an AI-powered system that automates waste diversion, while educating, sorting, alerting, and reporting. This smart recycling bin allows high-traffic facilities to reduce contamination, avoid recycling fines, and achieve a positive impact on the environment.

TrashBot vs EvoBin

Like TrashBot, the EvoBin consists of an interactive system that shows users how to sort their waste. But the EvoBin targets the issue with recycling education and doesn’t use AI waste sorting. Instead, it features internal sensors that trigger responsive messages, further educating the user. However, once contaminated items enter the bin, they cannot be re-sorted by EvoBin.

TrashBot vs Oscar Sort

While Oscar Sort stands out because of its gamification of the recycling process, sorting still depends on the user. Even with clear instructions, an item can end up in the wrong bin by a rushed or careless user. TrashBot’s AI only gets smarter over time and automatically assigns each item to the corresponding bin inside, meaning that any contaminated items are assigned to a landfill to maintain a clean recycling stream.

TrashBot vs Bin-e

Bin-e is an AI-based smart waste bin that sorts and compresses waste. The standard Bin-e does not include a monitor, however, one can be added by purchasing the advanced version. Bin-e also features signage on its surface and offers color and graphics customization; in contrast, TrashBot features a simple LED light logo and stainless steel surface to fit with today’s modern, clean interiors.

Company/companies that developed/implemented/offer the innovation

CleanRobotics was created to eliminate the general public’s confusion when selecting the right bin for waste disposal. Contamination of recyclables happens on a large scale at facilities with high traffic such as airports and hospitals, resulting in high recycling costs and low yields.

CleanRobotics aligns its activities to global frameworks, The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) being the gold standard. Company’s technology directly advances UNSDGs 12 & 13 and has ramifications for 6, 9, 11, and 17.

• Clean water and sanitation

• Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

• Sustainable cities and communities

• Responsible consumption and production

• Climate action

• Partnerships for the goals

CleanRobotics Technologies Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, United States, Pennsylvania

Website https://cleanrobotics.com/

E-mail: teamtrashbot@gmail.com

Sales Inquiries: Zak Wehman, zak.wehman@cleanrobotics.com

Marketing & PR: Frank Fimbres frank.fimbres@cleanrobotics.com

Service & Support: Alexandra Niesen, alexandra.niesen@cleanrobotics.com