AI-driven solutions and robotic sorting streamlines plastics recycling

A dedicated AI Innovation Hub at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe exhibition and conference at RAI Amsterdam from May 5-6, 2026, will showcase the latest AI-driven solutions in plastics recycling in an immersive experience. Visitors will be guided across the full value chain from feedstock and product design to collection, processing, and material sourcing. Live demonstrations will include swarm-robot sorting technology from Antfarm and a phone-based AI material analysis solution from Safi.

Swarm sorting demonstration

Antfarm will showcase a step forward in robotic waste sorting technology with its Swarm Alpha fleet of 6-10 robots that sort real-world waste streams including bottles, cans, and cartons.

Also launched at PRS Europe will be Antfarm Beta, a next-generation system designed to sort up to 10 times faster than Alpha. Antfarm Beta introduces a fundamentally different approach, with robots picking individual objects and placing them into onboard bins until full, enabling dramatically higher throughput. 

The demonstration will also highlight Antfarm's real-time vision system powered by advanced AI models, enabling accurate material recognition as sorting happens. A live dashboard will provide clear insights into system performance, including material types sorted, picks per minute, and revenue metrics.

Sébastien Willems, co-founder and CEO, Antfarm said: "Compared to 2025, this year's demonstration represents a major step change in both the range of materials that can be handled and the overall picking speed, underlining rapid progress in system throughput and maturity. Visitors will be amazed by how far our swarm has come."

Phone-based AI material analysis demonstration

Declan Clancy, head of product at Safi has outlined how visitors will be able to interact with its latest AI innovation: "You will be able to use AI on a phone to analyze a typical bale of recycled PET material. You will be able to see the AI working live and try it for yourself."

AI is revolutionising recycling by streamlining material selection, product design, and collection routes. It improves sorting accuracy, reduces manual labour, and optimizes facility performance to cut costs and environmental impact. AI platforms connect recyclers with processors, optimize pricing, and support data-driven decisions, while blockchain ensures full traceability and transparency.