Three new recycling robots are helping the Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) remain as efficient as possible while diverting waste from landfills.
With grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the DPW acquired three recycling robots from AMP Robotics that will help improve the quality, efficiency, and safety at the DPW's Recycling and Education Center.
"By implementing these new technologies, the DPW continues to be on track to achieve our goal of reducing landfill waste," said Dar Baas, director of Kent County DPW. "At the DPW, we are continuously innovating and implementing practices that increase our efficiency, improve safety, reduce landfill waste, and provide an overall better environment for Kent County residents."
The robots use artificial intelligence to sort materials quickly and with precision, capturing high-value recyclables.
"We're excited to expand our footprint in Michigan and bring the latest advancements in AI-driven automation to Kent County DPW," said Jeremy Neigher, general manager of AMP Robotics' technology solutions group. "Our partnership will help the DPW identify and recover recyclables at a faster rate and with greater precision."
The DPW also recently installed eddy current technology at the Recycling and Education Center. The result is higher quality recycled materials and a more efficient process for diverting these materials from the landfill.
DPW says that these new technologies help divert waste from landfill and contribute to revenue the DPW needs to offset the costs of processing recyclables. The technology can sort materials at a high rate that humans simply cannot, and with the current labour shortage, the robots and eddy current separator are important for the DPW to reach its goal of reducing landfill waste by 90 percent by 2030.
The Kent County Department of Public Works provides municipal solid waste disposal services to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste through various facilities and programs.
