UK AI investment boosts recycling in Scotland with Recycleye

Innovation meets sustainability: carton sorting gets smarter We’re excited to partner with Tetra Pak and Recycleye to introduce AI-powered carton sorting technology to Scotland. By strengthening our carton sorting capability, we’re able to deliver even greater value to the Local Authorities and communities we support. This milestone highlights the power of collaboration and innovation in building a smarter, more sustainable recycling system for Scotland and beyond.   #Recycling #Sustainability #Innovation #CircularEconomy #Scotland #recyclingweek

Great to see the latest UK AI investment in liquid carton sorting 👏 ACE UK's Chief Executive Mandy Kelly ACMA,CGMA welcomes the news saying: "With almost three quarters of UK councils now collecting liquid cartons at the kerbside, it is vital that there is investment in MRF infrastructure to ensure that cartons are being effectively sorted and sent for reprocessing. “I am proud that the carton industry has made a number of investments in key facilities across the UK, demonstrating effective carton sorting at scale. The installation at Levenseat marks another welcome step towards the widespread use of advanced sorting technology, with a clear focus on providing high-quality materials for reprocessing.” Tetra Pak Awantika Chadha Recycleye Ben Powell

Fresh Tech in Recycling: TOMRA's New Metal Sorting Breakthrough Big news in recycling tech, TOMRA has just rolled out a machine that can visually identify and separate different metals from mixed scrap. This isn’t just a small upgrade. It means recyclers can now extract high-value metals faster, with greater accuracy, and far less manual sorting. The result? More recovered material, less waste, and higher profits for facilities already running on tight margins. This kind of innovation moves the whole sector forward, showing what happens when engineering, AI, and circular thinking collide. Read the full story via Yahoo Tech.

AI Leaf Squad: Automating Autumn It's officially fall—and that means back-breaking, time-consuming yard work. But what if we could eliminate the raking, polluting leaf blowers, and endless bagged waste? We need the AI Leaf Squad: autonomous robots designed to efficiently patrol lawns and streets, picking up leaves off the ground. These aren't just cleaners; they're recyclers. The robots instantly process the collected biomass on board, turning it into rich, high-quality compost before returning to base. This innovation cuts labor costs, eliminates noisy equipment, and turns seasonal waste into valuable, Earth-friendly soil, making every autumn hassle-free and truly sustainable. Let's automate the fall clean-up and feed our soil with smart tech.

Most startups try to simplify their business models. We're doing the opposite. At ALBON we're building for connection, not simplicity. Circular businesses link industries that never used to speak to each other. They turn waste streams into value streams. “Your business model’s too complex.” That’s the feedback I’ve heard too many times. But complexity isn’t a flaw when you’re designing like nature. In nature, nothing is wasted. Everything feeds something else. At ALBON, we’re redefining agri-food wastewater treatment - recovering nutrients from wastewater and sludge to create premium biochar fertiliser. Two products? Not really. It’s one loop that turns waste into value - and the unit economics work. With AI integration, we link and optimise these systems seamlessly, reducing manual oversight and improving efficiency. Research published in Springer Nature shows that circular systems can reduce production costs by 30-50% and lower material use by up to 25% through smarter resource recovery and reuse. I pitched ALBON's circular model at the Deep Green Biotech Hub Green Light Showcase two weeks ago. This circular vision is one of ALBON's spikes - we're bullish on building systems that work like nature and learn like AI: efficient, regenerative, and endlessly linked. #CircularEconomy #WasteToValue #ClimateTech #Sustainability #Biochar

Did you know – in Vilnius, food scraps go into bright orange bags made of at least 90 % recycled plastic, then into regular rubbish bins. These special bags are later separated and the food waste is composted while the bags themselves are recycled ♻️ At Softeta, we help make this system smarter. Working with Energesman, we trained a computer‑vision platform on ~75 000 images to identify and count more than six waste categories, including those orange bags 🤖 The solution processes live video from multiple conveyor belts and delivers instant analytics. Tailor‑made training data let us recognize Lithuania’s unique biowaste bags, since generic models wouldn’t see them 🛍️🤐 By detecting every orange bag, we deliver data‑driven insights that help Vilnius turn leftovers into compost while keeping waste management costs low. Take a look at the visual – you’ll see our AI model spot an orange bag trying to slip by unnoticed. Not on our watch! 🕵️ If you’re curious to see the model in action, check the link in the comments for a calming, real‑time demo 🧘 Wondering how AI could optimize your processes? Let’s connect! #wastemanagement #AI #computervision SOFTETA

Recycling — literally and metaphorically! This is the small pile of recyclables I brought home from #MAICON2025. But for me, it represents something bigger. Each small action — like bringing my plastic home to recycle — can build toward a more thoughtful future. Rebecca Bultsma's session made one thing clear: Ethical AI isn’t about waiting for regulation. It’s about daily practices — the small actions that keep your brand human, credible, and resilient in the world. I can't wait to put her V.I.B.E.S. (Visibility, Input integrity, Bias/balance, Empowerment) check into action. Honestly, everyone should. I left MAICON with a backpack full of inspiration and ahas. The kind of ideas that get “recycled” — shared with my team, adapted into workflows, reshaped to benefit our clients, and ultimately used to grow AI literacy at scale. The highlights of my experience? — Brian Brinkman's and Liza Adams' sessions were loaded with practical use cases and tips to build custom GPTs and agents. (Liza, thanks for sharing the "stupid simple," too.) — Jessica Hreha presented a compelling case for a dedicated Marketing AI Transformation Leader. While not every company has the budget for this role now, individuals can adopt the mindset, build the skills, and ensure they're the obvious choice in the future. — Jeremiah Owyang, Geoff Woods, Paul Roetzer, and Brian Keating helped us take a step back so we could look up and into the distance. What does the future hold? There are risks, but these thought leaders are optimistic about human + AI collaboration — even in science. As Dr. Keating said, AI can’t feel the emotion that surely overcame Galileo the first time he looked through a telescope. This is the real value of in-person conferences. Absorb, connect, reflect. Then bring it home, and make it useful. ♻️ What will you recycle from MAICON? Colleen Massa, Matt Cyr, Kendra Ramirez, Angie Carel, Matthew Dooley, Amy Hertsenberg, Sumi Singh, PhD., Kate Berner, Drew Mabry, Scott Kaufman, Aby Varma, Mary McPheat (Campo), Bipasha Ghosh, Jennifer Renshaw, Ryan Markman, Bridget B., Aimee Smith

𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗻-𝗠𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗔𝗜) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟬 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have announced the 10 semifinalists for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing. Each team receives $50,000 to scale solutions that drive inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa. Semifinalists will present their innovations at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, December 4–5, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. A total of $2 million in prizes will be distributed for this prize, along with opportunities for global visibility, mentorship, and investor connections. Five finalists will be selected to advance to the final round. Following the December pitch event, a $1 million Grand Prize will be awarded at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, alongside a $250,000 runner-up prize and a $100,000 award for the Most Advanced Use of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies. “By focusing on AI and manufacturing, this award identifies and supports visionary teams transforming industry with advanced technologies, which has a multiplying effect by creating economic opportunity for communities across Africa,” said Emily Musil, PhD, Managing Director at the Milken Institute. “From the semifinalist stage to beyond the prize, we are excited to provide a global platform and network for future-forward entrepreneurs and social impact companies.” Here are the 10 semifinalists transforming Africa’s manufacturing value chains with AI: - BleagLee (Cameroon) – AI-powered recycling of waste into high-value materials - DataProphet (South Africa) – Industrial intelligence for manufacturers - Digitech Oasis (UK) – Robotics and automation platforms for warehouses - Freshpack Technologies (Tanzania) – AI-powered cold storage reducing food waste - GreenBDG Africa (South Africa) – Climate-smart infrastructure and energy solutions - INDOS (Egypt) – AI-driven digitization of manufacturing floors - SPIRO (UAE) – Eco-friendly electric mobility manufacturing - THOLA. (USA) – AI software for energy monitoring & ESG insights - TorchIT (India) – Affordable AI-powered assistive technologies - Toto safi Limited (Rwanda) – Circular textile manufacturing for reusable hygiene products With AI projected to add $3 trillion to Africa’s economy over the next decade, these semifinalists are shaping the future of inclusive and sustainable industry. Read the full story here https://lnkd.in/dYUaCrs4

I'm fascinated by what I'm seeing across our sector in 2025. The convergence of AI, robotics, and eco-friendly extraction methods is creating possibilities we could barely imagine just five years ago. Clean-label products aren't niche anymore - they're mainstream expectations. But here's what excites me most: the shift toward green food processing isn't just about meeting consumer demands. It's about fundamentally rethinking how we create value. When we minimize waste, optimize energy use, and implement chemical-free extraction methods, we're not just protecting the environment, we're building more resilient, profitable businesses. Take physical refining and advanced extraction technologies, these aren't just better for the planet, they're producing superior quality products that command premium pricing. Companies embracing these innovations are setting new benchmarks for both sustainability and profitability. The next decade belongs to food processors who understand that green innovation isn't a cost center; it's a competitive advantage. The question isn't whether to embrace sustainable practices, but how quickly we can transform our operations to lead this revolution. I'd love to hear about the changes you're seeing in your sector. Let me know in the comments. #GreenFoodProcessing #SustainableInnovation #CleanLabel #FoodTech #CircularEconomy #ResponsibleManufacturing

Portsmouth is on the cutting edge of innovation. ♻️ AMP—named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025—is using AI right here in Portsmouth to sort trash smarter. By scanning and separating materials for composting and recycling, AMP’s technology helps keep waste out of landfills and sets a new blueprint for cities everywhere. https://lnkd.in/gBGg4PCe