Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has unveiled its latest recycling innovations including Smart Bin Technology to automatically sort plastic, metal and glass.
CSIRO says the “robo-bin” is a proof of concept device designed to improve recycling rates and reduce contamination in waste streams, with NSW recycling just 10 per cent of 800,000 tons of this plastic waste.
The announcement of its latest innovations coincides with National Science Week and the CSIRO says the innovations will inspire the next generation of leaders to “lead our circular economy-focused future”.
Smart Bin Technology uses Internet of Things (IoT), sensing, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and infrared spectroscopy technologies to automatically sort plastic, metal and glass, as well as classify specific type of plastic.
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It also supports making garbage into a resource. Small Victorian business Casafico makes commercial construction materials from recycled glass, newspaper and polystyrene, much of which is sourced through online waste exchange marketplace ASPIRE, which spun out of CSIRO in 2013.
CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall It says innovation and collaboration are essential to building Australia’s circular economy and is at the heart of CSIRO’s collaborative Ending Plastic Waste Mission, which aims for an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering Australia’s environment by 2030.
“Science-based solutions that will grow our circular economy require collaboration at every stage of the innovation process – from understanding plastics at the molecular level to reinventing the way we use, manufacture , and plastic recycling, to the commercialization of solutions that use new technologies like this Smart Bin, which is now in discussions to go to market, and spin-off of new companies like ASPIRE to grow the new jobs in the circular economy,” said Dr Marshall.
“Science can turn our economy into a circular one that renews and reuses what we once threw away, creates higher paying jobs, promotes new Australian technology, and protects our environment, while inspiring the next generation to what is possible – during National Science Week and throughout the year.”
CSIRO Principal Research Scientist Wei Ni said: “Smart Bin Technology can be used in places such as shopping centres, schools, cinemas, coffee shops and airports. This will improve recycling rates as it is very easy to use and can ensure that materials are recovered for reuse.”
UTS researcher Professor Ren Ping Liu said: “Working with CSIRO, we’ve developed the latest IoT and AI technology to build this amazing Smart Bin. It can simplify the recycling process and improve efficiency for waste sorting and sorting. The Smart Bin will help to promote the circular economy and contribute to a carbon neutral future.”
Casafico’s Head of Communications, Samantha Mucci spoke on the benefits of operating in the circular economy.
“Getting waste materials through Aspire helps us be carbon positive, to save some natural resources and divert waste away from landfill,” he said.
“We can’t underestimate how a small change can make a big difference. It’s great to see the next generation learning that.”
In line with the 2022 National Science week theme ‘Glass: more than meets the eye’, CSIRO has developed curriculum-aligned lesson plans with suggested class activities around glass, plastics and the circular economy theme which made available to support teachers across the country.
“This continues CSIRO’s 40-year track record of actively supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning for students and teachers with high-quality education programmes,” CSIRO notes.
“CSIRO’s 2021 Circular Economy Roadmap finds that innovation can triple job creation from resource recovery through designing new products and materials, advanced manufacturing, and embracing new business models that will create domestic and export markets for waste streams. Increasing Australia’s recovery rate by just 5 per cent would add an estimated $1 billion to GDP.”