Carton Council empowers MRFs1 with robotic sorting, boosting carton recycling efficiency
As a founding member of the Carton Council of North America, Tetra Pak plays a vital role in supporting recycling technology and local collection programs for cartons in the United States and Canada.
Image: An AMP Robotics recycling system
Background and initiative – supporting recycling in the US and Canada
Tetra Pak is a founding member of the Carton Council of North America, a non-profit organisation of carton manufacturers that works to support recycling technology and local collection programs in the U.S and Canada. As part of these efforts, the Carton Council offers grants to materials recovery facilities (MRFs) that take in and sort collected recyclables.
The results – innovation and technology for more efficient recycling
The grants allow MRFs to acquire different types of equipment to help sort cartons. More recently, that equipment started to include robotic systems that use artificial intelligence (AI) to sort cartons, increasing sorting efficiency and accuracy. MRFs can improve the capture of cartons to make bales of PSI Grade 52 (a commodity grade specific to recycled cartons), which then can go to full-carton recyclers or paper mills. Grade 52 can be used to make things like tissue products, printing and writing paper, paper cups, food-grade packaging, as well as building materials and moulded pulp products.
The Carton Council has provided multiple grants that have resulted in the deployment of AMP or other robotic systems in MRFs across the US in states including Florida, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. This has allowed MRFs to generate better quality bales of Grade 52 for recycling, which contributes to the circular economy1.
Looking forward – improving and increasing carton recycling infrastructure
The Carton Council continues to assist local and regional MRFs with infrastructure grants that will enable them to sort cartons into Grade 52. This results in more community access to carton recycling and a rise in the carton recycling rate.
1MRF (materials recovery facility) - is a plant that separates and prepares single-stream recycling materials to be sold to end buyers.
Image: Robotic sorting systems use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to sort different recyclables accurately and efficiently
Location
USA
Partners
Carton Council
For more information
AMP Robotics is Reimagining Recycling
Tetra Pak contacts
Jordan.Fengel@tetrapak.com
